Al Capone (BIOGRAPHY (A & E))

In Hornung's Al Capone, he looks into the life of the most notorious crime boss of all time. He chronicles Capone's rise to power and his transformation from a New York shoe-shiner to the most powerful crime boss in America's history. Hornung used actual stories from Capone's life to show how he lived and how he rose to the top. Al Capone was born in Italy, but his family moved to New York towards the end of the nineteenth century. His father opened up a barber shop and supported his family adequately for an immigrant. As a teenager, Capone started a shoe-shining business in the front of a hotel near his house. One day, a few boys from a local gang came by and destroyed Capone's stand. The rage that filled Capone would be the catalyst for Capone's attempt at entering the crime world of the New York streets and the beginning of a life of crime. After success as a neighborhood gang leader, Capone quit school and entered into the true organized crime of New York as a "muscle" man. He moved to Chicago with his mentor who got him set up with jobs. The author goes through stories of different people Capone had met and how they affected Capone. Capone eventually made his way up to the head of the Chicago crime world and held his power with the help of fixed elections keeping him power for years. He finally was caught by Elliot Ness, an IRS agent, and ended up serving time at Alcatraz. He died of syphilis in his home in Miami after leaving Alcatraz because of failing health. The biography went through all aspects of Capone's rise and fall including his love life, family, money, and friends to show how the experience affected all who encountered him. I really enjoyed this book because it went into the details of organized crime more than any other book I have ever read. I reccommend this book to anyone who wants to know about a man that used fear to rule an entire city during the 1920s.

This is a very entertaining read filled with the stuff of gangster lore. The book gets right tothe point about Capone --he was a slugger who muscled his way to the top and then sold out everybody to stay there. Instead of romanticizing the Big Fella and his overstuffed style, Hornung shows how crime is a violent enterprise that preys upon the weak and glorifies the bully. With a dry wit and lean writing style, Hornung describes Capone's vicious rise and inevitable fall as the life of a coward, not a hero.

While the paper and general publishing quality are not as impressive as Rick Hornung's other books, the narrative is pure Hornung. As with his previous volumes, Hornung's jazzy syle spins a new light on uncomfortable facts, and leaves his readers strangely satisfied. This lively and extremely well researched biography brings us from New York to the streets of Chicago where we preceive the darkness of Al Capone. It's well worth the trip...

How does a small time hood become the biggest gangster in America? Simple. Murder, graft, and more murder,etc. And Al Capone was a master of both. Hornung takes you on an 'up close and personal' view of Al's dealings. An amazing schematic of the underworld lifestyle. (Although 'deathstyle' would be more appropriate). A fast and enlightening read. As my father used to say, "You won't put it down!"

This is a great read. I found the information and pictures enlightening and accurate. Take this book on vacation with you to Chicago...it's a wonderful tour guide. Just make sure you are packing, or carrying if you are female.