Al Capone
Chicago's King of Crime
Published on 6. July 2021
96 pages
978-1-4597-4918-4 (ISBN)
Description
Chicago mob legend Al Capone set the template for future crime bosses, offering a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of being an underworld leader.
Al Capone could have pursued an honest career and quiet life with his wife and son. Instead, he chose to become a towering mob boss in Chicago, overseeing an underworld empire based on bootlegging, gambling, prostitution, and other rackets.
Quick to recognize the value of sympathetic media coverage and alliances with local politicians, Capone amassed almost unimageable wealth, prestige, and power. He also had syphilis which affected his judgement and a violent streak which brought him to the attention of federal authorities. While rival gangs couldn't kill Capone, he faced a more formidable challenge when bureaucrats began scrutinizing his tax returns.
This concise account tells the story of America's best-known gangster in a succinct, descriptive manner.
More details
Person
Nate Hendley is a journalist and author of several books, primarily on crime-related subjects. His book, The Beatle Bandit (about a murderous 1964 bank heist) won the Crime Writers of Canada Award of Excellence for Non-Fiction 2022. He lives in Toronto.
Content
- Intro
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Contents
- Chapter 1 - The Apprenticeship of Alphonse Capone
- Chapter 2 - Sweet Home Chicago
- Chapter 3 - Pistols and Prostitutes
- Chapter 4 - A New Crime King is Crowned
- Chapter 5 - Machine Gun Medley
- Chapter 6 - Miami Getaway
- Chapter 7 - Valentine Greetings from Big Al
- Chapter 8 - Public Benefactor/Public Enemy
- Chapter 9 - Crime King at Bay
- Chapter 10 - Crime King Cornered
- Epilogue
- Acknowledgements
- Bibliography
- About the Author
