Get Capone by Jonathan Eig, an atmospheric biography of the iconic gangster is subtitled, somewhat misleadingly, The Secret Plot to Get America’s Most Wanted Gangster. The book’s true focus is not the endgame of Capone’s criminal saga, but the glory days of his career in Prohibition Chicago.
Narrator Dick Hill sounds like a Chicago ‘wise guy’ who saw the whole thing unfolding from a corner bar; his flat accent and hearty delivery convey Capone and company’s style and swagger. Eig charts the kingpin’s rise, beginning with his 1923 arrival from Brooklyn, following mentor Johnny Torrid, but he and Hill are in no rush. There are countless stops to smell the coffee or Mama Capone’s cooking. (Eig’s description of the matriarch making braciole, the Italian beef dish, is reason enough to whip some up.) In depicting the characters in Capone’s world, from rival Diamond Jim (James Colosimo) to club doorman, we are likely to be told the shape of one’s facial features, the color of another’s tie.
Hill, like a veteran of the jaded city to a tourist, relates the backdrop of Chicago politics and the post-WWI Roaring Twenties hedonism that Prohibition sought to temper but only stoked. He is at his best when he robustly gives us Capone in the gangster’s words. We are able to perceive, beyond his brute acumen in bootlegging and mob management, Capone’s mastery of the media that made him an international celebrity, the inspiration for countless Hollywood movies, and the archetypal gangster you hate to love. Extolling family values and the pleasure of an innocent glass of beer, he’d tell the press, “I’m just a businessman…All l do is satisfy a public demand.” Hill conveys, by playing it straight, the irony in Capone’s statements praising those honest judges and prosecutors out to get him in contrast to the myriad officials he is able to bribe or threaten.
Federal and local authorities finally succeed in putting Capone away for tax evasion. But by the time of his release, Eig shows us graphically the advance of syphilis that would kill him at age 48 has set in. Despite the book’s historical accuracy, the cumulative effect of the author’s detail and Hill’s enthusiastic rendition are insistent that we, once again, admire the Capone legend. Elly Schull Meeks
Acclaimed journalist and best-selling author Jonathan Eig blows the lid off the Al Capone story. Based on never-before-seen government documents and newly discovered letters written by Al Capone himself, Get Capone presents America's greatest gangster as you’ve never seen him before.
In addition to IRS files, Eig got hold of the personal papers of the U.S. attorney in Chicago who prosecuted Capone. He even found family members who would share stories about their notorious relative. The author, a former reporter for the Wall Street Journal, brings his uncompromising standards for research and his superb knack for storytelling to one of the most thrilling stories in American history. This eye-opening biography reveals that Capone was the target of one of the most intense criminal investigations in American history - with orders coming directly from the White House. Capone flaunted his criminal success so openly that President Hoover insisted the gangster be stopped. And, despite his many misdeeds, Capone may have been the victim of a rigged trial.
Get Capone also offers a bold new theory to explain the Valentine's Day Massacre and sheds new light on Capone's connection - or lack thereof - to the crime.
©2010 Jonathan Eig (P)2010 Tantor
"Eig presents a multifaceted portrait of a shrewd man who built a criminal empire worth millions." (Publishers Weekly)
"Get this book"
Jonathan Eig superbly tells the tale of a man whose legend still permeates Chicago. Working with a compelling script, the narrator does an excellent job of bringing to life Capone, his crew and the cast of local and federal government officials who interact with him.
Eig does a masterful job of re-creating the Roaring Twenties and detailing Capone's exploits. At the same time, he methodically examines the crimes that have long been attributed to Capone. Relying on his dogged reporting skills, Eig adds texture to some events, while persuasively debunking others.
This is one of those books that will have listeners looking for excuses to take errands so they can listen to just a few more minutes. Great yarn!
"Confusing"
This book had alot of facts like, names, dates, street names, cities, etc. So many it was hard to remember them all and keep it all straight. I also think it wasn't written in completely chronological order (confusing). To me the most interesting part was the epilogue. It would have been nice to have heard Capone's life story in his words and from his point of view. I think that is what I was looking for.
I listen to a lot of books while driving my semi. In my opinion....A good audio book is one that chews up concrete and makes me not want to stop driving even when the log book says I have to.
"Wrong Reader"
Although I basically agree with the other reviews I have found this no where as enjoyable as I thought it would be after seeing an interview with the author. This book reads more like a news article than a story and although that gives a lot of interesting information it can be tedious at times. Add to that the reader doesn't really have the right tone to make some of the limited dialog interesting, and I find myself only able to listen to it for around an hour art a time before I start getting sleepy from it...And when operating 40 tons of tractor and trailer getting sleepy isn't what I'm looking for. Someone like Joe Montagna who reads audio might have made this more interesting, but as is I'm just not that impressed with it....Lesson learned though...Don't purchase without listening to the sample first. If the reader doesn't sit right with you then it can be a tough listen for all those hours.....
"A fun listen!"
If you like Chicago stories, popular biography, popular history, or true crime, I heartily recommend this well-writeen and well-read book. I enjoyed every minute!
"Thank God for the IRS"
Who has not heard of Al Capone and Elliot Ness, sometimes to excess but the views presented by this author make this one hard to stop listening to? The book gets right into his nefarious past and at times actually has you feeling almost sorry for him. A brutal criminal that if it were not for the IRS he could have written a book on how to be a professional criminal and get away with a plethora of crimes.I wish the IRS had as many imaginative techniques to nail all the drug dealers running lose.
"First Experience with Audible was Great!"
Yes, if they wanted to know EVERYTHING Capone! I had to read this book for a college course and the book was very long (considering my deadline)! I ordered the Audible version to listen to as I read along with my paperback copy.... it kept me on track and allowed me to plan around the assignment because I knew exactly how much loner it would take (at any given point) how many more hours it would take to finish the book.
George Johnson, the real (and historically unrecognized) "hero" who finally put Capone in jail. This is a man that is typically not known about regarding the Capone case (as so many of the story tellers have gotten the facts wrong, or, have embelished the truth for effect), and it was very interesting to learn about him.
The chapter on the St. Valentines Day Massacre was particularly interesting because the author utilized real-life police reports as one of his sources. He also revealed a never before released letter (at least to the public) to John Edgar Hoover (director of FBI at the time) from a Chicago man written in the 1930's giving the best explanation for the seven murders... who did it and why. It is actually a misconception (I believe after reading this book) that Capone had anything to do with the St. Valentine's Day Massacre at all!
I was very touched by the love that Capone had for his wife and child; it was a genuine care and concern from a supposed 'monster' which I appreciated. Also, the Epilogue,which explained the decline of Capone's health and his death was particularly sad.
I really enjoyed my first experience (in life) with an audio book. For my college course, I was glad that I had the paperback version to read along with (and highlight), however, I know I would find it pleasurable to listen to books for fun as well.
"interesting"
The book is well written, and the audio production is great from all points of view.
"Compelling Insight"
I was thoroughly engaged by this fact-based narrative about an individual and an era that are more often discussed in a fictional context. The descriptions of Capone's personality and style brought to mind more modern day gangsters, many of whom must have modeled themselves on him. Even while recognizing Capone for the murderous thug that he was, Eig managed to convey the qualities that made him so slippery and so admirable to so many. In fact, his descripton of the trial, complete with a stacked jury and biased judge, almost made me feel sorry for the guy.
"Book title is misleading..."
I am about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way through the book and still waiting to hear about the "secret plot" to capture Capone. What I've heard about instead is a bunch of history and numerous profiles about various gangsters in the 20s and 30s. That's interesting, nonetheless, but not why I got this book. I got this book based upon the title, and I have yet to hear anything about it... just a TON of background information that seems to have absolutely nothing to do with the so-called "secret plot" the book is supposed to be about. The narrator, Dick Hill, is great, by the way.