Capone: The life and world of Al Capone - John Kobler

Gangsterism and violence were part of his childhood. At an early age he showed his tough and criminal tendencies, became involved in murder investigations, and was generally known to be connected with organized crime.

In 1920 he moved from his home in New York to Chicago and became a lieutenant to John Torrio, one of the most feared and brutal gangsters in the city. Together they established numerous brothels and speakeasies; gambling and rackets and political power became part of their life. The name Capone evoked fear.

The public called him Scarface; the FBI called him Public Enemy Number One; his associates knew enough to call him Snorky (slang for “elegant”).

Today Al Capone is remembered as the most brutal and flamboyant of the underground kings—the prototype of the gangster.

John Kobler has now written the intimate, dramatic, in-depth story of Capone, re-creating both his private and public life, as well as the world in which he lived. Through interviews, documents, and private papers from archives never before released, he provides a total view of Capone and his gaudy era. We see Capone at home; we see him in Miami preparing his alibi for the bloody St. Valentine Massacre; we see him in his lavish hotel suite surrounded by huge bags of cash earned from his many illegal enterprises; we see him at work, controlling a city, directing an army of hoodlums; and we learn why he was among the most feared criminals of all time.

Here is a hypnotic, true story, skillfully narrated, with a gallery of players unprecedented in literature. It is filled with dramatic incidents that made headlines throughout the world. It is both a vast social document and a story more compelling than fiction. Capone is the ultimate true crime story masterfully presented.