Gangs of Chicago: An Informal History of the Chicago Underworld

by Herbert Asbury

Book Overview

This classic history of crime tells how Chicago's underworld earned -- and kept -- its reputation. Recounting the lives of such notorious denizens as the original Mickey Finn, the mass murderer H. H. Holmes, and the three Car Barn Bandits, Asbury reveals life as it was lived in the criminal districts of the Levee, Hell's Half-Acre, the Bad Lands, Little Cheyenne, Custom House Place, and the Black Hole. His description of Chicago's infamous red light...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1560254548
• ISBN13: 9781560254546
• Release Date: September 2002
• Publisher: Basic Books
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 1.12 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Great, with one exception

I enjoyed reading this book, but it was written some time ago. The original copyright is 1940. In fact, it was written at a time when investigative journalism was still colored by the author's blatant opinions, details considered too gruesome were left out (although there are some), and fact and fiction blended without too much trouble.It covers the time from the Chicago area's first settlement up to about the time of prohibition, but gang activity during prohibition is not a huge part of the book.The problem with this edition of the book is that my copy was missing a significant section. Pages 187-218 were missing and they hadn't just fallen out. If they had fallen out, there would be a gap on the paperback's spine. There is none, so I would say there was an error at the printer's. My copy abruptly stops toward the end of the story of H.H. Holmes, the World's Fair serial killer, and then goes 30+ pages ahead, picking up at the end of the story of Buff Higgins. I have no idea what subject matter is missing, only that my page numbers skip and there is no continuity.If you do get this book, check those pages immediately to see if my experience was isolated or there was a problem with the entire print run.

oldie but goodie

Though the publishers would have you believe otherwise, this is not a contempary sequal to the "Gangs of New York" movie. It was written over 50 years, with a different title. Regardless of the marketing, it is a great read. The detailed descriptions of street locations make it especially appealing. (Many of the key vice districts of Chicago's past are now occupied by housing projects or posh townhomes.) The book is very quick moving and entertaining.