Rothstein

By: David Pietrusza

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 13 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's Summary

The model for The Great Gatsby's Meyer Wolfsheim and Nathan Detroit from Guys and Dolls, Arnold Rothstein was an underworld genius, racketeer, rumrunner, and mastermind who, as F. Scott Fitzgerald observed, played "with the faith of 15 million people with the single-mindedness of a burglar blowing a safe." Jazz Age Broadway, with its thugs, speakeasies, showgirls, political movers and shakers, and sports heroes comes to life in this vibrant biography of the man who reigned supreme when the fast buck ruled and violence stalked the streets of Gotham.

©2003 David Pietrusza (P)2003 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic Reviews

"Writing a biography of the notoriously secretive Arnold Rothstein, a rum-and-drug-running, bookmaking loan shark who became one of the richest men in the world, is a gamble that, for the most part, pays off for Pietrusza." (Publishers Weekly)

Time well spent

Comprehensive period account for those interested in early 20th century American history. Narration was more than adequate but for some mispronunciation of Yiddish names, terms and idioms. The narrative timeline was sometimes disjointed (major disadvantage in audiobook). Held my interest throughout.

Fans of the time and place, rejoice

Arnold Rothstein was a pioneer of 20th century organized crime. He took the street-level and gambling-house tricks to new heights of craft and organization. He brought a spiritedness and an element of sly humor to his business. His proteges include Meyer Lansky, Benjamin Siegel, and Lucky Luciano, launching the multi-ethnic criminal organization that loomed so large later in the century. Arnold was a white glove kind of guy who almost never got his own fingernails dirty; he was great at using straw men and having numerous fall guys between him and trouble. He brought an extreme discretion and skills of quiet manipulation of every player in sight, along with fastidious risk management, that would become a standard way of life in modern America's political economy. He should stand as an icon for every slick well-dressed manicured slimeball out there. As such, he doesn't get the recognition he deserves. Grover Gardner's narration has just the right sophisticated twang for this. The story drags a bit at a few points, but it moves plenty well, and was well worth my time.

Great job of researching

This book went into great detail regarding the life and times of Arnold Rothstein. I found the story fascinating but struggled with the narration.

Spectacular, simply spectacular

Pietrusza is a fabulous writer and is great at keeping you interested. Moments of jocularity catch you off guard, and are always fun. I'd comment on Grover Gardner's narration, but why waste your time? We all know what a consummate professional he is and how much he adds to an audiobook. Too bad he couldn't narrate EVERY book on Audible! 100% 5 stars. Excellent