What do you think?
Rate this book
Scarface and the Untouchable: Al Capone, Eliot Ness, and the Battle for Chicago
The definitive history of gangster-era Chicago—a landmark work that is as riveting as a thriller
A CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
"REVOLUTIONIZES OUR UNDERSTANDING OF AL CAPONE AND ELIOT NESS." — Matthew Pearl • "GRIPPING. READS LIKE A NOVEL." — Chicago magazine • "AN EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT." — Sara Paretsky • "ESSENTIAL. THE TELLING IS SO EXPERTYLY DONE, IT'S HARD TO RESIST.” — Seattle Times • “A VERY GOOD BOOK. READS WITH FORCE AND STYLE.” — Chicago Tribune • “A DEFINITIVE ACCOUNT. MASTERFULLY WRITTEN.” — CrimeReads
Includes 115 photographs and a map of gangland Chicago.
In 1929, thirty-year-old gangster Al Capone ruled both Chicago's underworld and its corrupt government. To a public who scorned Prohibition, "Scarface" became a local hero and national celebrity. But after the brutal St. Valentine's Day Massacre transformed Capone into "Public Enemy Number One," the federal government found an unlikely new hero in a twenty-seven-year-old Prohibition agent named Eliot Ness. Chosen to head the legendary law enforcement team known as "The Untouchables," Ness set his sights on crippling Capone's criminal empire.
Today, no underworld figure is more iconic than Al Capone and no lawman as renowned as Eliot Ness. Yet in 2016 the Chicago Tribune wrote, "Al Capone still awaits the biographer who can fully untangle, and balance, the complexities of his life," while revisionist historians have continued to misrepresent Ness and his remarkable career.
Enter Max Allan Collins and A. Brad Schwartz, a unique and vibrant writing team combining the narrative skill of a master novelist with the scholarly rigor of a trained historian. Collins is the New York Times bestselling author of the gangster classic Road to Perdition. Schwartz is a rising-star historian whose work anticipated the fake-news phenomenon.
Scarface and the Untouchable draws upon decades of primary source research—including the personal papers of Ness and his associates, newly released federal files, and long-forgotten crime magazines containing interviews with the gangsters and G-men themselves. Collins and Schwartz have recaptured a bygone bullet-ridden era while uncovering the previously unrevealed truth behind Scarface's downfall. Together they have crafted the definitive work on Capone, Ness, and the battle for Chicago.
An Illinois State Historical Society "Best of Illinois" book award WINNER!
A CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
"REVOLUTIONIZES OUR UNDERSTANDING OF AL CAPONE AND ELIOT NESS." — Matthew Pearl • "GRIPPING. READS LIKE A NOVEL." — Chicago magazine • "AN EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT." — Sara Paretsky • "ESSENTIAL. THE TELLING IS SO EXPERTYLY DONE, IT'S HARD TO RESIST.” — Seattle Times • “A VERY GOOD BOOK. READS WITH FORCE AND STYLE.” — Chicago Tribune • “A DEFINITIVE ACCOUNT. MASTERFULLY WRITTEN.” — CrimeReads
Includes 115 photographs and a map of gangland Chicago.
In 1929, thirty-year-old gangster Al Capone ruled both Chicago's underworld and its corrupt government. To a public who scorned Prohibition, "Scarface" became a local hero and national celebrity. But after the brutal St. Valentine's Day Massacre transformed Capone into "Public Enemy Number One," the federal government found an unlikely new hero in a twenty-seven-year-old Prohibition agent named Eliot Ness. Chosen to head the legendary law enforcement team known as "The Untouchables," Ness set his sights on crippling Capone's criminal empire.
Today, no underworld figure is more iconic than Al Capone and no lawman as renowned as Eliot Ness. Yet in 2016 the Chicago Tribune wrote, "Al Capone still awaits the biographer who can fully untangle, and balance, the complexities of his life," while revisionist historians have continued to misrepresent Ness and his remarkable career.
Enter Max Allan Collins and A. Brad Schwartz, a unique and vibrant writing team combining the narrative skill of a master novelist with the scholarly rigor of a trained historian. Collins is the New York Times bestselling author of the gangster classic Road to Perdition. Schwartz is a rising-star historian whose work anticipated the fake-news phenomenon.
Scarface and the Untouchable draws upon decades of primary source research—including the personal papers of Ness and his associates, newly released federal files, and long-forgotten crime magazines containing interviews with the gangsters and G-men themselves. Collins and Schwartz have recaptured a bygone bullet-ridden era while uncovering the previously unrevealed truth behind Scarface's downfall. Together they have crafted the definitive work on Capone, Ness, and the battle for Chicago.
An Illinois State Historical Society "Best of Illinois" book award WINNER!
736 pages, Hardcover
First published August 14, 2018
About the author
Max Allan Collins
761 books1,229 followersReceived the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievment award) in 2006.
He has also published under the name Patrick Culhane. He and his wife, Barbara Collins, have written several books together. Some of them are published under the name Barbara Allan.
Book Awards
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1984) : True Detective
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1992) : Stolen Away
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1995) : Carnal Hours
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1997) : Damned in Paradise
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1999) : Flying Blind: A Novel about Amelia Earhart
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (2002) : Angel in Black
Japanese: マックス・アラン・コリンズ
or マックス・アラン コリンズ
He has also published under the name Patrick Culhane. He and his wife, Barbara Collins, have written several books together. Some of them are published under the name Barbara Allan.
Book Awards
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1984) : True Detective
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1992) : Stolen Away
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1995) : Carnal Hours
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1997) : Damned in Paradise
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1999) : Flying Blind: A Novel about Amelia Earhart
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (2002) : Angel in Black
Japanese: マックス・アラン・コリンズ
or マックス・アラン コリンズ
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
Want to read
July 16, 2018This is an advanced galley (ARC) edition of the William Morrow edition available for sale August 14,2018 .
August 20, 2018
An exhaustively and meticulously researched book about the lives of Elliot Ness and Al Capone, and their battle for Chicago. Tracing the lives of the two men from their births, you learn almost everything there is to know about the time of the Untouchables.
HIghly recommended.
HIghly recommended.
April 16, 2019
Well written
February 14, 2024
Meticulously researched and written.
February 1, 2019
The Introduction presents the case for how comprehensive and well researched this tale is and cites the various other books that fail to meet the challenge of the ‘Whole story’ of the battle between the infamous Chicago gangster Al Capone and his law enforcement nemesis, Untouchable Eliot Ness. Given the 600 page length of the book, plus 100 pages of source notes and another 15 pages of bibliography and movies, I believe it !
There are many parallels between contemporary drug lords and Al Capone, but the one big difference that was a surprise to me, was that Capone was a public figure, indeed a celebrity of the day. That is, he was not some figure in the shadows, he gave hundreds of interviews to the media of the day, which was primarily newspapers. He appeared at public functions, politicians, even the few honest ones, called on him occasionally to help in matters of the city, his social activities were constantly reported to the news hungry public.
Capone thought of himself as a real businessman, and presented himself that way, and most of all, wanted the public to recognize him as such, his only folly being that he supplied alcohol to people who wanted it and he was perfectly public about that fact. As most of the citizenry did not like the Volstead Act, aka the Prohibition of making and selling alcohol, they did not mind that someone was violating an unpopular law. And note, it was NOT against the law to consume it, so they were not morally compromised. Oh, except Capone also ran brothels, gambling houses and was busy intimidating, murdering as well as corrupting an entire city government and police force to keep his business interests secure.
This tale is encyclopedic in its detail, early in the book the childhood and family life of both characters is covered, however Agent Ness does not really make an active entrance until after page 300. Capone is a much more interesting character and we’ll say, gets around.
This is a good read if you are really interested in the subject. If you are looking for a quick thrill of those ‘Roaring Twenties’ in gangland Chicago, or the highlights of the work of a ‘Chicago typewriter’ (Thompson submachine gun) then you will have to earn it. Though there is plenty of murder, there is also the painstaking case building by the various government agencies battling Capone, and after all, amongst all the criminal mayhem, the real case made against him was income tax evasion. Perhaps it’s the complexity of having co-authors, the writing style can vary, and the income tax details are as dry as a busted beer still.
There are many parallels between contemporary drug lords and Al Capone, but the one big difference that was a surprise to me, was that Capone was a public figure, indeed a celebrity of the day. That is, he was not some figure in the shadows, he gave hundreds of interviews to the media of the day, which was primarily newspapers. He appeared at public functions, politicians, even the few honest ones, called on him occasionally to help in matters of the city, his social activities were constantly reported to the news hungry public.
Capone thought of himself as a real businessman, and presented himself that way, and most of all, wanted the public to recognize him as such, his only folly being that he supplied alcohol to people who wanted it and he was perfectly public about that fact. As most of the citizenry did not like the Volstead Act, aka the Prohibition of making and selling alcohol, they did not mind that someone was violating an unpopular law. And note, it was NOT against the law to consume it, so they were not morally compromised. Oh, except Capone also ran brothels, gambling houses and was busy intimidating, murdering as well as corrupting an entire city government and police force to keep his business interests secure.
This tale is encyclopedic in its detail, early in the book the childhood and family life of both characters is covered, however Agent Ness does not really make an active entrance until after page 300. Capone is a much more interesting character and we’ll say, gets around.
This is a good read if you are really interested in the subject. If you are looking for a quick thrill of those ‘Roaring Twenties’ in gangland Chicago, or the highlights of the work of a ‘Chicago typewriter’ (Thompson submachine gun) then you will have to earn it. Though there is plenty of murder, there is also the painstaking case building by the various government agencies battling Capone, and after all, amongst all the criminal mayhem, the real case made against him was income tax evasion. Perhaps it’s the complexity of having co-authors, the writing style can vary, and the income tax details are as dry as a busted beer still.
January 26, 2020
Having read a lot of books on organized crime and Al Capone in particular, I was not expecting much from yet another biography. I am pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the book. It is more engaging than many previous books such as Bergreen's Capone The Man and the Era and Schoenberg's Mr. Capone. My only qualm is with their citations and source material.
The book may be designed to be the definitive story of both Capone and Ness. It does not reach that goal. The authors race through Capone's rise to power and really begin their story with the St. Valentine's Day Massacre in 1929. This may be a literary ploy to provide balance between the personal stories of Ness and Capone. However, by glossing over so much of Capone's history, they leave themselves open to criticism. However, they do beautifully balance the story of both men throughout the book. Granted, Ness' story is not nearly as interesting at that of Capone; but the authors certainly work to make it appear that way.
The additional focus on the law enforcement aspect adds a lot to the story. The Ness biography by Oscar Fraley is very short, so the authors do not rely on this source, although it pops up throughout the text. There are several new Ness biographies on the market. I learned a lot from this book about the Secret Six. I always thought they were a feeble organization; but the authors make the argument that they were successful - just not at persecuting organized criminals. Rather, it appears their activities were designed to assist the city's elite businessmen who funded them, using many of the extra-legal methods that were available. Their only real contribution against the underworld was some slight involvement in returning the loot from the Lincoln, NE bank robbery.
The authors keep the book in a rigid chronological fashion. The chapter titles state clearly the period under discussion. This is beneficial for several reasons. One, the authors rely extensively on newspaper coverage of the era. This distances them from the arm chair writing of Pasley, Lyle, and Kobler. A lot happened in a very short window. The gang wars died out. Law enforcement increased. The Capone organization was under siege by every law enforcement agency under the sun each pursuing their own strategies. The chronological order provides much-needed focus and anchors the story in place.
It shows an emphasis on obtaining primary documentation. One of their chief sources is the Chicago Tribune which may have been a step above the muckracking competitiors; but remains fixed with the information of the then and now. The authors valiantly try to add in the missing data from the newspaper accounts and provide hindsight and context; but he result does make their book more sensational that it might have been. Consider the popular image of Ness as being a publicity hound. Does it serve the authors to argue a contradictory thesis by relying on newspaper accounts lavishly praising Ness for his activities?
I have not studied Ness as I have studied Capone. However, I can argue that the authors do not add much to the Capone story. Their writing is powerful, entertaining, and engaging. But I have the distinct impression that they are relying upon material that was published since Bergreen. Several times I thought, Gee that is directly from Eig's Get Capone or Eghigian's After Capone. I thought I saw some lesser known books like McArthur's Great Heist or Helmer's Capone and His American Boys. I was especially interested to know that they found evidence that at least one of the untouchables was, well, touchable. They also found evidence that Ness was under suspicion of corruption, though admittedly, after his publicized war against the Capones.
One of the most notable characteristics of this 700+ page book is that 100+ pages are reference material. None of it is cited properly by academic standards. Locating many of the sources would be challenging. There are no citation markers in the text. Readers have to mark both the text and then try to correspond with reference material in the appendix. It is overwhelming. A close reading will note that there is an abundance of newspapers and sensational magazine stories courtesy of Amazing Detective or Fantastic Detective. I do not necessarily mind these sources. However, I feel there is a disconnect between the citing of these sources and the clear impression that the authors are processing information from Eig, Eghigian, Helmer, etc. I am not accusing them of plagiarism. They do refer readers to these works.
Overall, it is an enjoyable book and possibly the best book on Capone's downfall. The authors make several arguments in the book that merit discussion. One is that Ness was not the publicity hound, he is often portrayed as being. Two, Ness was very successful in his persecution of Capone's beer racket. Three, Capone's own organization conspired against him. This last argument is a classic example of arm-chair scholarship. However, the fact remains that 2 of the most important trial witnesses against Capone continued working for the Chicago mob for a number of years. Also, the authors point to several significant flaws by Capone's lawyers before, during, and after the trial. It is an interesting argument; but evidence is hard to find. I did not see any obvious historical errors in the huge book. There is some question of bias because they use biased sources (such as John Lyle's Lawless Decade - Lyle was a judge of the era possibly, just possibly more biased than Wilkerson presiding over Capone's tax trial). However, I have no hesitation recommending the book to anyone interested in the period, Chicago 1929-1934. Readers should be dedicated to a long read!
The book may be designed to be the definitive story of both Capone and Ness. It does not reach that goal. The authors race through Capone's rise to power and really begin their story with the St. Valentine's Day Massacre in 1929. This may be a literary ploy to provide balance between the personal stories of Ness and Capone. However, by glossing over so much of Capone's history, they leave themselves open to criticism. However, they do beautifully balance the story of both men throughout the book. Granted, Ness' story is not nearly as interesting at that of Capone; but the authors certainly work to make it appear that way.
The additional focus on the law enforcement aspect adds a lot to the story. The Ness biography by Oscar Fraley is very short, so the authors do not rely on this source, although it pops up throughout the text. There are several new Ness biographies on the market. I learned a lot from this book about the Secret Six. I always thought they were a feeble organization; but the authors make the argument that they were successful - just not at persecuting organized criminals. Rather, it appears their activities were designed to assist the city's elite businessmen who funded them, using many of the extra-legal methods that were available. Their only real contribution against the underworld was some slight involvement in returning the loot from the Lincoln, NE bank robbery.
The authors keep the book in a rigid chronological fashion. The chapter titles state clearly the period under discussion. This is beneficial for several reasons. One, the authors rely extensively on newspaper coverage of the era. This distances them from the arm chair writing of Pasley, Lyle, and Kobler. A lot happened in a very short window. The gang wars died out. Law enforcement increased. The Capone organization was under siege by every law enforcement agency under the sun each pursuing their own strategies. The chronological order provides much-needed focus and anchors the story in place.
It shows an emphasis on obtaining primary documentation. One of their chief sources is the Chicago Tribune which may have been a step above the muckracking competitiors; but remains fixed with the information of the then and now. The authors valiantly try to add in the missing data from the newspaper accounts and provide hindsight and context; but he result does make their book more sensational that it might have been. Consider the popular image of Ness as being a publicity hound. Does it serve the authors to argue a contradictory thesis by relying on newspaper accounts lavishly praising Ness for his activities?
I have not studied Ness as I have studied Capone. However, I can argue that the authors do not add much to the Capone story. Their writing is powerful, entertaining, and engaging. But I have the distinct impression that they are relying upon material that was published since Bergreen. Several times I thought, Gee that is directly from Eig's Get Capone or Eghigian's After Capone. I thought I saw some lesser known books like McArthur's Great Heist or Helmer's Capone and His American Boys. I was especially interested to know that they found evidence that at least one of the untouchables was, well, touchable. They also found evidence that Ness was under suspicion of corruption, though admittedly, after his publicized war against the Capones.
One of the most notable characteristics of this 700+ page book is that 100+ pages are reference material. None of it is cited properly by academic standards. Locating many of the sources would be challenging. There are no citation markers in the text. Readers have to mark both the text and then try to correspond with reference material in the appendix. It is overwhelming. A close reading will note that there is an abundance of newspapers and sensational magazine stories courtesy of Amazing Detective or Fantastic Detective. I do not necessarily mind these sources. However, I feel there is a disconnect between the citing of these sources and the clear impression that the authors are processing information from Eig, Eghigian, Helmer, etc. I am not accusing them of plagiarism. They do refer readers to these works.
Overall, it is an enjoyable book and possibly the best book on Capone's downfall. The authors make several arguments in the book that merit discussion. One is that Ness was not the publicity hound, he is often portrayed as being. Two, Ness was very successful in his persecution of Capone's beer racket. Three, Capone's own organization conspired against him. This last argument is a classic example of arm-chair scholarship. However, the fact remains that 2 of the most important trial witnesses against Capone continued working for the Chicago mob for a number of years. Also, the authors point to several significant flaws by Capone's lawyers before, during, and after the trial. It is an interesting argument; but evidence is hard to find. I did not see any obvious historical errors in the huge book. There is some question of bias because they use biased sources (such as John Lyle's Lawless Decade - Lyle was a judge of the era possibly, just possibly more biased than Wilkerson presiding over Capone's tax trial). However, I have no hesitation recommending the book to anyone interested in the period, Chicago 1929-1934. Readers should be dedicated to a long read!
March 8, 2019
Meticulously researched, this book will serve as the definitive history of prohibition era gangland
Chicago. It clears up many erroneous impressions of the role of the prohibition enforecement unit known as the Untouchables in bringing down Capone and his Outfit. It credits them with negatively impacting the Outfit's cash flow and profitability while harassing and worrying them, but even if they had been able to secure any convictions relating to prohibition, no significant jail time would have resulted for Capone or his associates; the law didn't provide for anything beyond relatively small fines and short jail terms. The tax investigators, who were independent from the Untouchables and the other Prohibition enforcement officers, labored for over a decade to build tax evasion cases. When they finally brought Capone to trial with circumstantial evidence that wouldn't convict anyone in today's courts, the jury full of rubes who had already made up their minds to convict even before the trial began, voted randomly on the various counts because they were tired and hungry and wanted to go home. So Public Enemy Number One finally got what he deserved, but the whole business was such a farce that you couldn't make something up like that. Basically it came down to disorganized law enforcement versus organized crime. And the mobsters who felt Capone was bad for business because of his notoriety and the attention his celebrity brought to their "business," which many of them preferred to conduct quietly under the radar, well they at a minimum let it happen; and quite possibly they may have surreptitiously assisted the law to get Capone out of the way so they could take over. Everyone hears stories about how corrupt gangland Chicago was, but the extent of the violence, the corruption, and unbridled venality among public officials and mobsters alike staggered my mind. The detail in this book was impressive, yet for the most part it was still a very interesting and engaging read. A few times it bogged down by straying into esoterica, but overall it is well written and worth reading.
Chicago. It clears up many erroneous impressions of the role of the prohibition enforecement unit known as the Untouchables in bringing down Capone and his Outfit. It credits them with negatively impacting the Outfit's cash flow and profitability while harassing and worrying them, but even if they had been able to secure any convictions relating to prohibition, no significant jail time would have resulted for Capone or his associates; the law didn't provide for anything beyond relatively small fines and short jail terms. The tax investigators, who were independent from the Untouchables and the other Prohibition enforcement officers, labored for over a decade to build tax evasion cases. When they finally brought Capone to trial with circumstantial evidence that wouldn't convict anyone in today's courts, the jury full of rubes who had already made up their minds to convict even before the trial began, voted randomly on the various counts because they were tired and hungry and wanted to go home. So Public Enemy Number One finally got what he deserved, but the whole business was such a farce that you couldn't make something up like that. Basically it came down to disorganized law enforcement versus organized crime. And the mobsters who felt Capone was bad for business because of his notoriety and the attention his celebrity brought to their "business," which many of them preferred to conduct quietly under the radar, well they at a minimum let it happen; and quite possibly they may have surreptitiously assisted the law to get Capone out of the way so they could take over. Everyone hears stories about how corrupt gangland Chicago was, but the extent of the violence, the corruption, and unbridled venality among public officials and mobsters alike staggered my mind. The detail in this book was impressive, yet for the most part it was still a very interesting and engaging read. A few times it bogged down by straying into esoterica, but overall it is well written and worth reading.
November 19, 2019
Okay, so I know nothing -NOTHING- about this time period, really, though I'm finding myself suddenly fascinated with prohibition and all the things that happened during that time period. I kind of fell on this book when I was at the library, so I picked it up and I'm really glad I did.
I do think that sometimes the author got a little too lost in the weeds, a little too focused on everyday tedium, but by and large, this book really impressed me.
Al Capone is a hell of a character, and it makes sense why, when you say his name today (nearly 100 years after his hay day in Chicago) everyone still knows exactly who he was, if not the details of his life. On the other side, you've got the law, the men who were trying to enforce prohibition and try to stop all the gangs and violence.
I really enjoyed seeing how Capone and Ness really balanced each other out in some ways, though it took me some time to become as interested in Ness's story. I have to admit, the guts that Capone had to do some of the stuff he did was just... amazing to me. Like, a reporter spurned him, so he bought the newspaper the reporter worked for, for example.
This book really brought to life a lot of the prohibition issues, but mostly it really showed me a side of Capone that I (not knowing much about the man) wasn't aware of before. While I do think the author gets kind of lost in the weeds, and Ness didn't ever interest me as much as Capone did (which might just be who I am. I tend to like villains more than heroes), and I would have liked to see a bit more of prohibition as a whole, I really, really liked this book and I'm currently on the search for more of this nature, in this time period.
I do think that sometimes the author got a little too lost in the weeds, a little too focused on everyday tedium, but by and large, this book really impressed me.
Al Capone is a hell of a character, and it makes sense why, when you say his name today (nearly 100 years after his hay day in Chicago) everyone still knows exactly who he was, if not the details of his life. On the other side, you've got the law, the men who were trying to enforce prohibition and try to stop all the gangs and violence.
I really enjoyed seeing how Capone and Ness really balanced each other out in some ways, though it took me some time to become as interested in Ness's story. I have to admit, the guts that Capone had to do some of the stuff he did was just... amazing to me. Like, a reporter spurned him, so he bought the newspaper the reporter worked for, for example.
This book really brought to life a lot of the prohibition issues, but mostly it really showed me a side of Capone that I (not knowing much about the man) wasn't aware of before. While I do think the author gets kind of lost in the weeds, and Ness didn't ever interest me as much as Capone did (which might just be who I am. I tend to like villains more than heroes), and I would have liked to see a bit more of prohibition as a whole, I really, really liked this book and I'm currently on the search for more of this nature, in this time period.
December 11, 2018
This book has a lot of flaws but manages to be likable despite them. As with many books written by two authors, this one struggles with tone -- 80% of the book (the portion of it written by Brad Schwartz, I presume) is well-written and journalistic if a bit dry and complex. The other 20% (written I assume by Max Allan Collins) reads like a caricature, over-dramatized and written with 1920s gangster slang thrown in.
The other big challenge with this book is the level of detail -- by about halfway through it gets harder and harder to keep all the characters straight and the authors do themselves no favors by jumping around in the timeline so much -- from 1933 to 1924 to 1928 all in the space of one paragraph sometimes. There isn't quite enough emphasis on telling richly detailed stories, and too much emphasis on throwing facts at you rapid-fire, like one of the machine guns they write so much about.
That said, this is a thoroughly researched book that is occasionally very illuminating about Al Capone's Chicago years. And even if Capone comes out the clear protagonist of this story, Eliot Ness does get almost equal treatment. To my pleasant surprise, the city of Chicago is almost a character in itself in this book.
This one's recommended for anyone with an interest in Chicago history, as long as you're willing to deal with some flawed writing.
The other big challenge with this book is the level of detail -- by about halfway through it gets harder and harder to keep all the characters straight and the authors do themselves no favors by jumping around in the timeline so much -- from 1933 to 1924 to 1928 all in the space of one paragraph sometimes. There isn't quite enough emphasis on telling richly detailed stories, and too much emphasis on throwing facts at you rapid-fire, like one of the machine guns they write so much about.
That said, this is a thoroughly researched book that is occasionally very illuminating about Al Capone's Chicago years. And even if Capone comes out the clear protagonist of this story, Eliot Ness does get almost equal treatment. To my pleasant surprise, the city of Chicago is almost a character in itself in this book.
This one's recommended for anyone with an interest in Chicago history, as long as you're willing to deal with some flawed writing.
December 26, 2023
A deeply researched, intriguing history of crimes that have been Hollywood-ized into mythology. Also, a history of American criminal organizations and the reverberations of Prohibition.
If you're at all interested in organized crime, the Roaring '20s, or just think Chicago is cool, I highly recommend.
If you're at all interested in organized crime, the Roaring '20s, or just think Chicago is cool, I highly recommend.
February 10, 2019
I met authors Max Allan Collins and Brad Schwartz at an author talk at Chicago's American Writers Museum. They gave an engaging presentation, explaining how their collaboration came about. (Before meeting each other, each had independently researched Al Capone and Eliot Ness.)
Max explained that for each fiction story he writes, he first researches characters and events as if he's going to write non-fiction. From facts he writes fiction.
Brad told of his being a trained researcher, and his writing non-fiction only.
The goal of their collaboration was to write the definitive, non-fiction piece about Capone and Ness. It would be one source of the actual events, separating the truth from folklore that has grown though television, movies, and print media. Brad the researcher encouraged Max the accomplished novelist to collaborate, with the goal of having non-fiction read like a novel.
From my reading, they achieved the goal of a definitive, non-fiction piece. Citation of their credible sources is presented in 150 of the 700 pages.
What held my attention was its setting in Chicago and in Chicago history. I learned some about the 1920s and early 1930s in Chicago. I also learned about the genesis of organized crime in Chicago, and the genesis of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The book shows Capone thriving off the attention of the Law, and off the attention of those in the public who were fascinated by him. The book relates the brutal murders Capone ordered or participated in. Still he comes across as likable.
I like how the book is organized and that each chapter is of a reasonable and consistent length. I too like the epilogue which ties some of Chicago's current affairs, both lawful and unlawful, to the events of the '20s and '30s.
Max explained that for each fiction story he writes, he first researches characters and events as if he's going to write non-fiction. From facts he writes fiction.
Brad told of his being a trained researcher, and his writing non-fiction only.
The goal of their collaboration was to write the definitive, non-fiction piece about Capone and Ness. It would be one source of the actual events, separating the truth from folklore that has grown though television, movies, and print media. Brad the researcher encouraged Max the accomplished novelist to collaborate, with the goal of having non-fiction read like a novel.
From my reading, they achieved the goal of a definitive, non-fiction piece. Citation of their credible sources is presented in 150 of the 700 pages.
What held my attention was its setting in Chicago and in Chicago history. I learned some about the 1920s and early 1930s in Chicago. I also learned about the genesis of organized crime in Chicago, and the genesis of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The book shows Capone thriving off the attention of the Law, and off the attention of those in the public who were fascinated by him. The book relates the brutal murders Capone ordered or participated in. Still he comes across as likable.
I like how the book is organized and that each chapter is of a reasonable and consistent length. I too like the epilogue which ties some of Chicago's current affairs, both lawful and unlawful, to the events of the '20s and '30s.
April 7, 2022
This is a difficult book to rate. I think based on research it is a 5 star book. However the writing knocks that down a good deal. It is not difficult to read but seems a little disjointed probably due to the fact there are two authors.
I enjoyed the book and would recommend it but it wasn’t polished as I expected.
It really deserves 3.5 stars (I’m subtracting .5 star for all the mentions of Capone’s silk underwear. I felt like it was mentioned on every other page which over the course of 550+ pages of narrative became both tedious and a little disturbing).
I enjoyed the book and would recommend it but it wasn’t polished as I expected.
It really deserves 3.5 stars (I’m subtracting .5 star for all the mentions of Capone’s silk underwear. I felt like it was mentioned on every other page which over the course of 550+ pages of narrative became both tedious and a little disturbing).
November 9, 2021
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Readeras part of a quick takes/catch up post —emphasizing pithiness, not thoroughness.
---
There is a lot of de-mythologizing in this history of Capone and Ness—not just of some of the myths that surrounded them during the 1920s and 30s—but of many of the "de-mythologizing" works that have been written about them since. According to Collins and Schwartz, both men—especially Ness—have been the victim of so much revisionist history that it's almost impossible to really get at what these two did and were like.
Still, the authors think they've got it—or at least closer to it than others due to their research methods, etc. Hopefully, they have—I don't know. They did tell a pair of compelling stories about Capone, Ness, and how they both rose to notoriety—and kept it.
I do think a text version of this would work a little better—I had a hard time tracking some of the not-as-important names/dates/events. It could be me, and probably is. I don't think it was Stefan Rudnicki's fault at all—he did a great job with the work (and it was nice to hear him doing something other than Alex Bledsoe novels).
---
There is a lot of de-mythologizing in this history of Capone and Ness—not just of some of the myths that surrounded them during the 1920s and 30s—but of many of the "de-mythologizing" works that have been written about them since. According to Collins and Schwartz, both men—especially Ness—have been the victim of so much revisionist history that it's almost impossible to really get at what these two did and were like.
Still, the authors think they've got it—or at least closer to it than others due to their research methods, etc. Hopefully, they have—I don't know. They did tell a pair of compelling stories about Capone, Ness, and how they both rose to notoriety—and kept it.
I do think a text version of this would work a little better—I had a hard time tracking some of the not-as-important names/dates/events. It could be me, and probably is. I don't think it was Stefan Rudnicki's fault at all—he did a great job with the work (and it was nice to hear him doing something other than Alex Bledsoe novels).
February 3, 2019
This is a well researched book about Al Capone, Eliot Ness, Prohibition and the battle for Chicago. I found the book to be very interesting and would recommend it to anyone interested in this time period.
April 25, 2022
If you’re looking for a very comprehensive account of Al Capone, this is a good book to read. I personally would have preferred something a little less comprehensive, as I found this to be bogged down in minutiae. By the end, I had Scarface fatigue.
Part of the problem might be that, despite what the movies or shows might portray, the downfall of Capote through tax evasion really wasn’t that sexy.
Part of the problem might be that, despite what the movies or shows might portray, the downfall of Capote through tax evasion really wasn’t that sexy.
January 16, 2020
The authors of this title did a great job at building an effective narrative of two people that interacted directly once in their parallel careers. It felt, in many ways, like a fictional account of a gangster and a lawman, even though it is historically accurate. I am not a historian, so I cannot attest to the historical accuracy, but the sources cited were relevant and trustworthy, and both of the authors wrote about the difficulties of building a coherent narrative.
I enjoyed this book immensely, following the life of the infamous Al Capone and the Untouchable Eliot Ness. The narrative held together well and was a real page-turner, especially as Capone and Ness got further into their respective careers and towards the final "showdown". There were interesting parallels that could be drawn to today, not necessarily with Capone and Ness, but more so with some of the minor characters that appeared.
However, though the authors discussed being objective, especially compared to old narratives, I found that nearing the trial of Capone phase, the objectivity began to go out the window. Neither author is a legal expert, but spent much of the chapters on Capone's trial surmising what his lawyers could have done better, mistakes they made, and other opinions on Capone's lawyers. This really pulled me out of the narrative, because suddenly instead of presenting facts, or at the very least opinions by people that were present such as reporters, the authors decided to take it upon themselves to analyze the trial. Up until that point the book had felt much more objective and narrative-based, and was more enjoyable by far.
The other difficulty I had with this book, which is not necessarily the authors' fault, was the relatively gigantic cast of characters. Attempting to follow who was who, especially among the minor players in the various gangs and agencies, became frustrating. This was especially prevalent during the early days of Capone's gang, which were filled with characters that were not always relevant to the grand scheme of the narrative. There was also inconsistent naming of some of the characters, sometimes using first names, sometimes last, sometimes both, sometimes nicknames, sometimes adding titles, etc. It made it harder to keep the characters straight in my head as I read and bounced between the Capone and Ness narratives.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It kept me wanting to keep reading the next chapter and the next, even though I was well aware of the ending to the Capone narrative, as will others who read this book. I got to the end and found myself wanting the book to have been longer and more in-depth about some other area, just because the narrative was so compelling. It has certainly opened an interest into the fight against organized crime and the integration of criminal syndicates into the everyday life of cities and the effect that has had. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Capone, or Ness, or even a passing interest in organized crime or federal investigators.
I enjoyed this book immensely, following the life of the infamous Al Capone and the Untouchable Eliot Ness. The narrative held together well and was a real page-turner, especially as Capone and Ness got further into their respective careers and towards the final "showdown". There were interesting parallels that could be drawn to today, not necessarily with Capone and Ness, but more so with some of the minor characters that appeared.
However, though the authors discussed being objective, especially compared to old narratives, I found that nearing the trial of Capone phase, the objectivity began to go out the window. Neither author is a legal expert, but spent much of the chapters on Capone's trial surmising what his lawyers could have done better, mistakes they made, and other opinions on Capone's lawyers. This really pulled me out of the narrative, because suddenly instead of presenting facts, or at the very least opinions by people that were present such as reporters, the authors decided to take it upon themselves to analyze the trial. Up until that point the book had felt much more objective and narrative-based, and was more enjoyable by far.
The other difficulty I had with this book, which is not necessarily the authors' fault, was the relatively gigantic cast of characters. Attempting to follow who was who, especially among the minor players in the various gangs and agencies, became frustrating. This was especially prevalent during the early days of Capone's gang, which were filled with characters that were not always relevant to the grand scheme of the narrative. There was also inconsistent naming of some of the characters, sometimes using first names, sometimes last, sometimes both, sometimes nicknames, sometimes adding titles, etc. It made it harder to keep the characters straight in my head as I read and bounced between the Capone and Ness narratives.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It kept me wanting to keep reading the next chapter and the next, even though I was well aware of the ending to the Capone narrative, as will others who read this book. I got to the end and found myself wanting the book to have been longer and more in-depth about some other area, just because the narrative was so compelling. It has certainly opened an interest into the fight against organized crime and the integration of criminal syndicates into the everyday life of cities and the effect that has had. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Capone, or Ness, or even a passing interest in organized crime or federal investigators.
July 18, 2018
A vivid, engaging, and rigorously documented account of the Capone/Ness years. A first-rate popular history. I enjoyed it thoroughly.
December 10, 2020
I’ve been waiting for this book for years.
There are so many works out there about Al Capone, most of them more fact than fiction, few of them recounting the gritty details of his battles with Eliot Ness during Prohibition. The Untouchables movie is more fantasy than reality, so was the TV show, depicting a Manicheean struggle between good and evil, law and order, etc. I wanted something that covered the full details of how these two met on the playing field of Chicago and what actually went down.
This book satisfied my curiosity and so much more. It layers details in all the best ways, keeping the momentum of the narrative going while maintaining readability. It makes Capone more complex and fascinating than he’s normally portrayed, without letting one forget that he was a stone cold killer. It brings Eliot Ness to life, both demythologizing him but also showing him in a favorable light with quality contributions that helped to nab Capone. And it lays bare the ridiculousness of Prohibition enforcement, coupled with nativist sentiment from WASP power brokers without taking away from the horrors of mass death that came with the beer wars.
If anyone wants a deeper look at Al Capone, the world he made, and how his rise and fall actually occurred, I’d recommend this in a heartbeat. It’s far better than other biographies and it gives the reader a complete picture of what was actually happening in Chicago at the time. Unquestionably, this is one of the best things I’ve read in 2020.
There are so many works out there about Al Capone, most of them more fact than fiction, few of them recounting the gritty details of his battles with Eliot Ness during Prohibition. The Untouchables movie is more fantasy than reality, so was the TV show, depicting a Manicheean struggle between good and evil, law and order, etc. I wanted something that covered the full details of how these two met on the playing field of Chicago and what actually went down.
This book satisfied my curiosity and so much more. It layers details in all the best ways, keeping the momentum of the narrative going while maintaining readability. It makes Capone more complex and fascinating than he’s normally portrayed, without letting one forget that he was a stone cold killer. It brings Eliot Ness to life, both demythologizing him but also showing him in a favorable light with quality contributions that helped to nab Capone. And it lays bare the ridiculousness of Prohibition enforcement, coupled with nativist sentiment from WASP power brokers without taking away from the horrors of mass death that came with the beer wars.
If anyone wants a deeper look at Al Capone, the world he made, and how his rise and fall actually occurred, I’d recommend this in a heartbeat. It’s far better than other biographies and it gives the reader a complete picture of what was actually happening in Chicago at the time. Unquestionably, this is one of the best things I’ve read in 2020.
November 12, 2018
Scarface and the Untouchable is a book detailing the history of Al Capone and Eliot Ness’s Untouchables in gangster-era Chicago and Al Capone’s eventual tax evasion conviction. It is entirely nonfiction, though it is written in such a manner that’s intended to read like a novel. Of course, as with any history book, particularly those with lots of detail and those covering an extended period, Scarface and the Untouchable does occasionally seem a little dense. That being said, it is well-written and does not skimp on the necessary details. In fact, it includes everything from court transcripts to police reports!
While reading this book, I definitely got a clear picture of Al Capone and this period of history. I knew of Al Capone before this book, as I think almost everyone does know at least of him, though I will admit I didn’t know much else.
One thing I do want to mention is that I cannot share how this book stacks up against others dealing with Al Capone, given I have not read any of them. However, if I had to hazard a guess based on my reading of this book and other things I have heard individuals say about it, Scarface and the Untouchable does seem to give a comprehensive look on Al Capone and this section of his life. As such, I’d guess this book stacks up quite well in terms of quality of other Al Capone books.
(more of a review on Friday Nov 16th posted on my blog)
While reading this book, I definitely got a clear picture of Al Capone and this period of history. I knew of Al Capone before this book, as I think almost everyone does know at least of him, though I will admit I didn’t know much else.
One thing I do want to mention is that I cannot share how this book stacks up against others dealing with Al Capone, given I have not read any of them. However, if I had to hazard a guess based on my reading of this book and other things I have heard individuals say about it, Scarface and the Untouchable does seem to give a comprehensive look on Al Capone and this section of his life. As such, I’d guess this book stacks up quite well in terms of quality of other Al Capone books.
(more of a review on Friday Nov 16th posted on my blog)
February 18, 2019
I am from Chicago, the South side, and grew up knowing this history....seeing these buildings and understanding that this is our heritage. This book is VERY detailed, and unless you know the city, you may not appreciate this much detail on people, places and things. It is written in TWO MONTH sections and yet...fails Al Capone somehow. Once he goes to prison, the writer is done with him. He did not die of syphillis in prison, he died of pneumonia in Miami after his release. But the writer(S)
Are focused on telling more of the story of Chicago’s History than the end of this historic man’s story. It is a good book and much better than most attempting to tell the same story. Don’t let the length fool you - the last 1/3 of the book is acknowledgements, bibliography and sources. Enjoy the book and welcome to my hometown!
Are focused on telling more of the story of Chicago’s History than the end of this historic man’s story. It is a good book and much better than most attempting to tell the same story. Don’t let the length fool you - the last 1/3 of the book is acknowledgements, bibliography and sources. Enjoy the book and welcome to my hometown!
August 24, 2021
Exhaustive compendium of Chicago’s Capone/Ness years written in Collins’ straightforward, easily comprehensible style. Although the text pushes nearly 600 pages, it reads through with ease, and keeps the exploits entertaining as well as historically accurate.
After all the stories of the era are over and gone with, the final epilogue chapter races through the subsequent years with a poignant look at the city’s progress and its storied past.
After all the stories of the era are over and gone with, the final epilogue chapter races through the subsequent years with a poignant look at the city’s progress and its storied past.
February 11, 2019
Solid well-researched and generally engaging account of the Feds war on the Chicago Mob mostly in the 1920s and 30s. A couple of things struck me as I finished the book - that the 1987 movie The Untouchables is mostly complete hogwash. It's an entertaining and well-made film but bears little resemblance to the reality of what happened. Elliot Ness was a mostly mild mannered Federal Agent who wasn't the tough-guy as portrayed by Costner in the movie, nor did he ever in real life toss one of Capone's associates off a building. Utter ridiculousness, but sure it's entertaining. Secondly - the Feds tax-evasion case against Capone wasn't exactly solid. Upon reading the account, I thought the evidence was fairly reasonable from a circumstantial standpoint, and would certainly stand up better today with the much broader 'RICO' statute laws in effect that make these broad circumstantial conspiracies easier to prosecute, but given the time of 1931 the case wasn't exactly solid. Capone's lawyers left a lot to be desired, without revealing spoilers, and I feel like if he had even a quarter of the dream team like OJ Simpson had in his trial, Capone would've easily been acquitted despite his notoriety. In fact, Capone's lawyers attempts at a plea bargain offered the Feds at least some proof of his off-the-books income, "... This off-the-record appeal only offered further proof of his client’s guilt (i.e. of his illicit income)—dealing openly with the feds just dug Capone in deeper." Ouch.
One thing also that struck me was the prejudice of the time and the laziness of the jurors. Most of Capone's jurors just wanted to deliberate long enough to make it look like they weren't being knee-jerk, but at the same time they didn't want to be sequestered over a long weekend. And some didn't even care about the facts, "Some jurors already thought Capone should be convicted for being a gangster, while others disliked Italians and/or Catholics. Another said, “To hell with the evidence!”..." Still, Capone got exactly what he deserved and in fact probably got off fairly easily with his prison sentence seeing that he likely ordered the murder of so many rivals.
My one minor quibble with the book is that the narrative momentum sags just a bit in the middle third of the book. Not enough to ruin the enjoyment of the book, but the authors do seem to get bogged down in a little too much in the mechanical details during this middle part of the book. But things definitely pick up as Ness and company along with the equally (and arguably more important) important internal revenue agents increasingly close in on Capone.
One thing also that struck me was the prejudice of the time and the laziness of the jurors. Most of Capone's jurors just wanted to deliberate long enough to make it look like they weren't being knee-jerk, but at the same time they didn't want to be sequestered over a long weekend. And some didn't even care about the facts, "Some jurors already thought Capone should be convicted for being a gangster, while others disliked Italians and/or Catholics. Another said, “To hell with the evidence!”..." Still, Capone got exactly what he deserved and in fact probably got off fairly easily with his prison sentence seeing that he likely ordered the murder of so many rivals.
My one minor quibble with the book is that the narrative momentum sags just a bit in the middle third of the book. Not enough to ruin the enjoyment of the book, but the authors do seem to get bogged down in a little too much in the mechanical details during this middle part of the book. But things definitely pick up as Ness and company along with the equally (and arguably more important) important internal revenue agents increasingly close in on Capone.
May 21, 2021
I originally found this in my local library displayed as a new book, but rereading the Dresden Files - John Marcone is one of my favorite characters; he's the local organized crime boss in the setting of the story - got me to take off my TBR. Though Scarface and the Untouchable dragged in places - I wasn't all that interested in Eliot Ness to begin with and he's certainly less interesting than Capone - the author presents a compelling narrative and explanation of early twentieth century Chicago-based organized crime and its implications on organized crime on through today.
Not only that, but the author does an excellent job of humanizing someone whose figure and face has become a widely recognized symbol with largely negative connotations while making clear that Capone's reputation is earned. I don't think there's anyone who wouldn't recognize Al Capone and the tax evasion case that sent him to prison. It is, however, a special kind of narrative that can make me wince at brutality ordered, overseen, and even participated in in one chapter while making me very angry that the judge and jury essentially conducted a false trial and convicted at random on almost no evidence in another. Far from being some triumph of clever law enforcement agents, the Capone tax evasion trial was actually a farce overseen by a judge who made it clear from the outset he wanted Capone convicted, seen by a jury half-convinced to give the maximum sentence for deeds unrelated to the trial (and the other half of the jury, actually trying to do their civic duty, was eventually convinced by forced isolation and starvation to convict on the first charge in each year, no matter what it was or what evidence there was or was not for it), with Capone himself defended that by supposed tax law experts that were probably paid off by Capone's rivals to give a notably incompetent defense.
While Scarface and the Untouchable is not necessarily a book that I would enthusiastically recommend to anyone not already interested in the topic, it was a good book that I learned a lot surprising information from.
Not only that, but the author does an excellent job of humanizing someone whose figure and face has become a widely recognized symbol with largely negative connotations while making clear that Capone's reputation is earned. I don't think there's anyone who wouldn't recognize Al Capone and the tax evasion case that sent him to prison. It is, however, a special kind of narrative that can make me wince at brutality ordered, overseen, and even participated in in one chapter while making me very angry that the judge and jury essentially conducted a false trial and convicted at random on almost no evidence in another. Far from being some triumph of clever law enforcement agents, the Capone tax evasion trial was actually a farce overseen by a judge who made it clear from the outset he wanted Capone convicted, seen by a jury half-convinced to give the maximum sentence for deeds unrelated to the trial (and the other half of the jury, actually trying to do their civic duty, was eventually convinced by forced isolation and starvation to convict on the first charge in each year, no matter what it was or what evidence there was or was not for it), with Capone himself defended that by supposed tax law experts that were probably paid off by Capone's rivals to give a notably incompetent defense.
While Scarface and the Untouchable is not necessarily a book that I would enthusiastically recommend to anyone not already interested in the topic, it was a good book that I learned a lot surprising information from.
September 30, 2023
An interesting book: two biographies and a description of the Chicago society of the twenties and thirties. Beyond that what caught my attention was the politics of the era in Chicago which led a majority of people to knowingly vote in an administration that was clearly supportive of the criminal elements in the City. Here is how authors Collins and Schwartz describe the election of Mayor Thompson in the twenties.
''The city had chosen as its mayor a “political blunderbuss,” in the words of one journalist—“indolent, ignorant of public issues, inefficient as an administrator, incapable of making a respectable argument, reckless in his campaign methods and electioneering oratory, inclined to think evil of those who are not in agreement or sympathy with him, and congenitally demagogical.” Many saw Thompson as a product of the special cocktail of corruption and bluster that animated local life. “They was trying to beat Bill with the better-element vote,” observed the humorist Will Rogers. “The trouble with Chicago is that there ain’t much better element.” But others recognized Big Bill as the symptom of a deeper rot permeating the country—“a striking example,” wrote the Indianapolis Star, “of the potency of demagoguery and appeals to prejudice in American elections.” For one sociologist, writing in Century Magazine, Thompson’s victory proved that democracy itself had failed—not just in Chicago, but in any major metropolis. “The people were not fooled,” he wrote. “They knew that a vote for Thompson was a vote for Thompson and the ‘boys.’” The old, open form of government—“the kind of democracy visioned by Thomas Jefferson”—had given way to cabals of crooks, grafters, and party bosses who cut their deals behind closed doors. “That is essentially what has come to power with Thompson,” this sociologist wrote. “His election is the triumph of the gang.”
''The city had chosen as its mayor a “political blunderbuss,” in the words of one journalist—“indolent, ignorant of public issues, inefficient as an administrator, incapable of making a respectable argument, reckless in his campaign methods and electioneering oratory, inclined to think evil of those who are not in agreement or sympathy with him, and congenitally demagogical.” Many saw Thompson as a product of the special cocktail of corruption and bluster that animated local life. “They was trying to beat Bill with the better-element vote,” observed the humorist Will Rogers. “The trouble with Chicago is that there ain’t much better element.” But others recognized Big Bill as the symptom of a deeper rot permeating the country—“a striking example,” wrote the Indianapolis Star, “of the potency of demagoguery and appeals to prejudice in American elections.” For one sociologist, writing in Century Magazine, Thompson’s victory proved that democracy itself had failed—not just in Chicago, but in any major metropolis. “The people were not fooled,” he wrote. “They knew that a vote for Thompson was a vote for Thompson and the ‘boys.’” The old, open form of government—“the kind of democracy visioned by Thomas Jefferson”—had given way to cabals of crooks, grafters, and party bosses who cut their deals behind closed doors. “That is essentially what has come to power with Thompson,” this sociologist wrote. “His election is the triumph of the gang.”
January 19, 2021
So I started listening to this book on mp3. There was one disk. When that ended abruptly mid-story with no conclusion, I realized that the library had been ripped off in thinking that only one disk was needed. I notified the library and checked out the hardcover to continue the story.
This is a very detailed work. It is the more remarkable because there is significant conflicting testimony which must be considered in reconstructing what actually happened in the story of Al Capone, the other gangsters, and the federal/local efforts to end the control of the Outfit. The bibliography and notes are extensive.
A front section of photos divided into categories helps with some of the difficulty of remembering many names.
While it was interesting to hear about the background family histories of Capone & Ness, the book could have been considerably shorter without this information. I am not sure that any of that information really casts much light on how either Capone or Ness turned out to be who they were.
However, to prove that I can never be pleased, I felt that there was not enough information about Capone in prison or Ness after his Chicago days.
I also was not much interested in Chicago's relationship to crime or governance after this time period. The fate of landmark buildings also did not much interest me.
However, the details in the middle--the gist of the story--were fascinating and made for great reading. I felt that the coverage was balanced in not portraying either person as complete saint or sinner.
Truly for diehard history buffs or those interested in this time period due to its length and detail. But if you are one these people, I highly recommend it.
This is a very detailed work. It is the more remarkable because there is significant conflicting testimony which must be considered in reconstructing what actually happened in the story of Al Capone, the other gangsters, and the federal/local efforts to end the control of the Outfit. The bibliography and notes are extensive.
A front section of photos divided into categories helps with some of the difficulty of remembering many names.
While it was interesting to hear about the background family histories of Capone & Ness, the book could have been considerably shorter without this information. I am not sure that any of that information really casts much light on how either Capone or Ness turned out to be who they were.
However, to prove that I can never be pleased, I felt that there was not enough information about Capone in prison or Ness after his Chicago days.
I also was not much interested in Chicago's relationship to crime or governance after this time period. The fate of landmark buildings also did not much interest me.
However, the details in the middle--the gist of the story--were fascinating and made for great reading. I felt that the coverage was balanced in not portraying either person as complete saint or sinner.
Truly for diehard history buffs or those interested in this time period due to its length and detail. But if you are one these people, I highly recommend it.
August 17, 2019
A very interesting read detailing the lives of Al Capone, Eliot Ness, and the battle in Chicago during Prohibition. In alternating chapters, the authors show the rise of Al Capone from a small-time street gang member in New York to the head of the criminal underworld in Chicago. He was willing to do whatever was needed to ensure success of his businesses (liquor manufacturing & distribution, gambling, and prostitution), most notably the planning of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre where 7 of a rivals gang’s men were murdered.
Eliot Ness was a Chicago native. With the help of his brother-in-law he was able to work his way to the lead of the Prohibition Office in Chicago, where he was responsible for raiding the Capone distilleries and wreaking havoc on their business.
Much of Capone’s story was well known, but I was surprised by Ness’s story. Popular culture has made him out to be this tough federal agent leading to take down Capone and his corrupt world. In truth, there was a large number of people involved from the government, and many more responsible than Ness for the final conviction of Capon on tax evasion. Eliot Ness seemed to be more of an annoyance to Capone and his Outfit, with other agents working independently to gather the information needed to send him away to prison.
Anyone interested in Chicago history or organized crime with find a wealth of information within these pages. The co-authors take you inside the world of the roaring 20s in Chicago and keep you interested throughout.
Eliot Ness was a Chicago native. With the help of his brother-in-law he was able to work his way to the lead of the Prohibition Office in Chicago, where he was responsible for raiding the Capone distilleries and wreaking havoc on their business.
Much of Capone’s story was well known, but I was surprised by Ness’s story. Popular culture has made him out to be this tough federal agent leading to take down Capone and his corrupt world. In truth, there was a large number of people involved from the government, and many more responsible than Ness for the final conviction of Capon on tax evasion. Eliot Ness seemed to be more of an annoyance to Capone and his Outfit, with other agents working independently to gather the information needed to send him away to prison.
Anyone interested in Chicago history or organized crime with find a wealth of information within these pages. The co-authors take you inside the world of the roaring 20s in Chicago and keep you interested throughout.
October 17, 2019
Again, this is really a 3 1/2 star book but alas no can do. The 20's and 30's in Chicago come alive in this time mainly behind the personality of Alphonse Capone. Eliot Ness is much more a subdued and almost closed character and therefore can't carry stage. We learn a lot about the man but in a much shorter span. Once we leave his childhood and early career there is not much left to tell. Ness was methodical and single minded and otherwise uninteresting. His life after Chicago is someday up in about 10 pages. He went to Cleveland and became Chief of Police and was lonely in his retirement. End of story. The city of Chicago and Capone are what carry the book. The city was a wide open, wild west kind of town. Whatever the governmental agency, corruption ran rampant. One had to be connected for any city job and a city job meant a lot of extra income. Some civic groups did exist to curb push reforms but the reforms were meant to benefit the "established" class. In the end, some of those groups turned out to be corrupt as well. That leaves Alphonse Capone and the rest of the syndicate. A lot of the book deals with the well chronicled internecine wars between the various factions and Capone seizing the balance of power. What is alleged through the book is that his conviction on Tax Evasion was based on highly circumstantial and dubious evidence. Capone was a force of nature and possibly rivaled only by John Gotti. He tried to be everything to everybody but he was too feared to ever be accepted as anything but what he really was, a gangster.
January 26, 2019
Short review here. I love Max Allan Collins. I am a huge admirer not just of his work, but also the WAY he approaches so many of his books, particularly the Nathan Heller series -- most of which I've read, and we're talking like almost 20 books. Ive read all the Quarry stuff. I've read many of his other works as well.
What I like so much about his Heller books is how researched they are. I've read that those books are so historically accurate that they're more ground breaking and reliable on their subjects that college students source fact based papers on Collins' books. Think about that! They're historical FICTION books. That's kind of amazing. And they're fun as hell.
Scarface and the Untouchable is as stunning in the research as anything. It's not fiction. Unfortunately, I just wasn't that interested in the subject. I grew up a big fan of Depalma's Untouchables and the dream take on the era. I have watched the film at least once a year since the film came out in the 80s.
As it turns out, Al Capone isn't all that interesting as people. Ditto for Eliot Ness. However, I can't fault Max for that. That's just me. If you are interested, then I'm sure this books will be a boon for you.
What I like so much about his Heller books is how researched they are. I've read that those books are so historically accurate that they're more ground breaking and reliable on their subjects that college students source fact based papers on Collins' books. Think about that! They're historical FICTION books. That's kind of amazing. And they're fun as hell.
Scarface and the Untouchable is as stunning in the research as anything. It's not fiction. Unfortunately, I just wasn't that interested in the subject. I grew up a big fan of Depalma's Untouchables and the dream take on the era. I have watched the film at least once a year since the film came out in the 80s.
As it turns out, Al Capone isn't all that interesting as people. Ditto for Eliot Ness. However, I can't fault Max for that. That's just me. If you are interested, then I'm sure this books will be a boon for you.
February 6, 2021
A re-revison of Ness' legacy
I especially liked the authors reflection on Chicago post Ness/Capone and its afterword. There was a sentence they used that Chicago merely wanted the 'appearance' of organized crime disappearing which they do a fairly convincing job of proving; they mention Alderman Ed Burke who railed against Ness' glorification who was later charged with racketeering.
They profile both individuals early lives well and in detail but they fall a little flat in attempting to revise a downplayed, if not outright removed Ness from history. The later chapters so a fairy direct correlation between Ness' efforts disrupting the Outfit's bootlegging but early raids lack that connection.
As with a lot of histories characters come in and out and unless taking notes it's hard to recall who is who. The Untouchables, for instance seemed to go in and out of Chicago; the authors make a good effort at explaining who leaves or comes back but it's still a bit hard to keep track off when a name appears and then reappears 35 pages or so later.
However, the information is organized in a straight forward time line and is well researched. Definitely worth a read but I found their follow on book on Ness' career to be just a little more attention grabbing.
I especially liked the authors reflection on Chicago post Ness/Capone and its afterword. There was a sentence they used that Chicago merely wanted the 'appearance' of organized crime disappearing which they do a fairly convincing job of proving; they mention Alderman Ed Burke who railed against Ness' glorification who was later charged with racketeering.
They profile both individuals early lives well and in detail but they fall a little flat in attempting to revise a downplayed, if not outright removed Ness from history. The later chapters so a fairy direct correlation between Ness' efforts disrupting the Outfit's bootlegging but early raids lack that connection.
As with a lot of histories characters come in and out and unless taking notes it's hard to recall who is who. The Untouchables, for instance seemed to go in and out of Chicago; the authors make a good effort at explaining who leaves or comes back but it's still a bit hard to keep track off when a name appears and then reappears 35 pages or so later.
However, the information is organized in a straight forward time line and is well researched. Definitely worth a read but I found their follow on book on Ness' career to be just a little more attention grabbing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews