From Library Journal
Journalist Asbury pulled this book together from several official sources, including police records as well as unofficial ones such as the rough memories of criminals. True to the title, the book is a history of crime both organized and not that permeated the dirty underbelly of New York City and its boroughs in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Some of these gangs were so vicious they would post signs warning police to stay out of their neighborhoods or else! The 1927 volume is the basis of Martin Scorsese's forthcoming film of the same name starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Titanic heartthrob Leonardo DiCaprio, so make sure to have at least one copy on hand. This edition contains numerous illustrations and a foreword by Jorge Luis Borges. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Luc Sante, The New York Review
"Gangs is one of the essential works of the city, as deserving of a permanent place on the shelf . . ."
Judith Shulevitz, The New York Times Book Review
"Asbury comes off as positively multicultural when you compare him with his peers and immediate predecessors . . ."
Robert Flanagan, The Dispatch
"The rhetoric of the times, slang and colorful nicknames provide a poetic pleasure that helps offset the horrors . . ."
Ludovic Hunter-Tilney, The Financial Times Limited, January 18, 2003
"Bursts with exuberance for its criminal subject matter. A riproaring read ... Asbury's lurid prose gives [the book] mythic stature."
Book Description
Published to coincide with the release of Martin Scorsese's film, Gangs of New York, starring Leonard DiCaprio, The Gangs of New York has long been hand-passed among its cult readership. It is a tour through a now unrecognizable city of abysmal poverty and habitual violence cobbled, as Luc Sante has written, from legend, memory, police records, the self-aggrandizements of aging crooks, popular journalism, and solid historical research. Asbury presents the definitive work on this subject, an illumination of the gangs of old New York that ultimately gave rise to the modern Mafia and its depiction in films like The Godfather.
Gangs of New York: An Informal History of the Underworld FROM THE PUBLISHER
Published to coincide with the release of Martin Scorseseﾽs film, Gangs of New York, starring Leonard DiCaprio, The Gangs of New York has long been hand-passed among its cult readership. It is a tour through a now unrecognizable city of abysmal poverty and habitual violence cobbled, as Luc Sante has written, ﾽfrom legend, memory, police records, the self-aggrandizements of aging crooks, popular journalism, and solid historical research.ﾽ Asbury presents the definitive work on this subject, an illumination of the gangs of old New York that ultimately gave rise to the modern Mafia and its depiction in films like The Godfather.
SYNOPSIS
A prolific journalist and editor, Asbury (1891-1963) has his account of the Big Apple underworld published by Knopf in 1927 or 1928. It was republished by Paragon House is 1990. The new issue is inspired by the appearance of a big-name motion picture based on it. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
FROM THE CRITICS
Library Journal
Journalist Asbury pulled this book together from several official sources, including police records as well as unofficial ones such as the rough memories of criminals. True to the title, the book is a history of crime both organized and not that permeated the dirty underbelly of New York City and its boroughs in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Some of these gangs were so vicious they would post signs warning police to stay out of their neighborhoods or else! The 1927 volume is the basis of Martin Scorsese's forthcoming film of the same name starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Titanic heartthrob Leonardo DiCaprio, so make sure to have at least one copy on hand. This edition contains numerous illustrations and a foreword by Jorge Luis Borges. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
Art & Photography
Book Info
