A Brief History of Gangsters

The romanticized American gangster of the Prohibition era has proved an enduringly popular figure.

Even today, names like Al Capone and Lucky Luciano still resonate. Robb explores the histories of key figures, from gangs in the Old West, through Prohibition and the Great Depression, to the likes of John Gotti and Frank Lucas in the 1970s and 1980s. He also looks at the gangster in popular culture, in hit TV series such as Boardwalk Empire.

Although the focus is strongly on the archetypal American gangster, Robb also examines gangsters around the world, including the infamous Kray twins in London, French crime kingpin Jacques Mesrine, the Mafia Dons of Sicily, and the rise of notorious Serbian and Albanian gangs. Infamous Australian outlaw Ned Kelly makes an appearance, as does Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, while other sections provide details of the Chinese Triads and the Yakuza in Japan.

Robb also explores the gangster in popular culture, especially in film and television. Recent hit TV series such as The Sopranos and Boardwalk Empire and blockbuster movies like Public Enemies and Gangster Squad show that the gangster is here to stay.

Author: Brian J. Robb
Publisher: Running Press Adult
Published: 01/01/2015
Pages: 288
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.55lbs
Size: 7.70h x 5.10w x 0.90d
ISBN: 9780762454761

About the Author
Brian J. Robb is the New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling biographer of Leonardo DiCaprio, Johnny Depp, and Brad Pitt. He's also written acclaimed pop-culture books on silent cinema, the films of Philip K. Dick, Wes Craven, and Laurel and Hardy, and the TV series Dr. Who and Star Trek. He is co-editor of the Sci-Fi Bulletin.