Al Capone: His Life, Legacy, and Legend

Good book

Deirdre Bair is a brilliant writer. She is the only biographer who has the talent, research skills and persistence to tackle Al Capone. It is a revelation.

This new Deirdre Bair book, excellently written as we come to expect from this seasoned author, will be the cause of letters of complaints. Again there are nights without sleep ahead, since her writing on Al Capone in all its facets is so elegantly alluring, sagaciously seductive and impossible to put down, even when ones eyelids react to sleepiness. Well, let the left sleep while the right reads on and vice versa. I am through once and already back to Al’s early Brooklyn days. Being ranked up by his crime and living style mentor Johnny Torrio to take the ladder up to the top charge of Chicago’s Outfit business, I feel the latter to be guilty of serious behindology. It was he, relaxing in Brooklyn still, who suggested to Capone (p.188) to use his personal tax lawyer, L.P. Mattingly, who’s actions were in a very large way responsible, for Al Capone’s final fall down. Maybe Torrio did want to get rid of his general, as Al did pull most of the strings in Chicago. As a 30 year old street wise come-hither, who trusted his idol nearly blindly, not to bother, as Bair finely writes, about looking more careful into the tax evasion issue, which Mattingly so unprofessionally mixed up in Al’s unfavour. This good intentioned path finally led to years in prison in Alcatraz The atrocious bad treatment of his illness syphilis, reduced his life shorter than need be. Bair’s writing is so grand; I can be in the story for hours, without realising, that I am reading this life. She writes on four levels: Family history as truly recovered as can be (she is the first biographer, invited by the family to have inner access); Crime history of the USA and Chicago in particular; Trial story and history of the law, including alcohol prohibition; and finally a dense and enlightening metalogue, to them loose ends. With a beautiful language, this prolific writer, succinctly depicts family experience and immigration, puts a description of the horrific crime activities and delivers a tremendous analysis of her findings from within the family and the social cultural legends round Al. Finally The Legacy Chapter, is densely illuminating, about the various intricacies, which she had to deal with, while researching this seventh book of hers. She weaves this tapestry of family relationships - true, fancied and hilariously lied about - into a coherent whole. Once again, Deirdre Bair has shown us what a formidable writer artist she is, and the fact that Nan A. Talese publishes this championed writer, is like a knighthood she deserves.Theodor Itten: Psychotherapist, Sankt Gallen Switzerland

The author obviously did her research! I would strongly recommend this book if you're looking for a Capone biography. I got it used but it arrived in good condition and on time

Worthy biography. A lot of personal details about the man and his methods.