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A review by krikketgirl
The Gangs of New York by Herbert Asbury
3.0
When I first saw the cover of this book, I thought it would be talking about the organized crime of the 1920s and 1930s--I was astonished to be reading about gangs from as far back as the 1820s. Originally written in 1928, the book is written in a mishmash of retelling of legend, "shocker" paragraphs about gang brutality, and limited commentary about the administrative corruption and poverty that allowed and encouraged the growth of gangs.
I learned a few things from this book: for example, I had no idea that life in the city was as brutal as it is portrayed, at the time it was portrayed. That said, the book is not overly-scholarly in its approach. Because Asbury is not clear on when he is retelling stories and legends and when he is reporting verifiable facts, the reader is left wondering which pieces are actually true and which are hyperbole.
Also troubling is Asbury's ambivalent attitude towards the gangs and their activities: he vacillates between writing as though he were disgusted by them, tolerant of them, or even a little bit in awe of them. He reports on their "wickedness", but then refers to main players as "heroes".
Overall, this might be a starting point for understanding the atmosphere that gave a foothold to the Mafia and will underscore one's understanding of history for this period, but should only be a starting point.
I learned a few things from this book: for example, I had no idea that life in the city was as brutal as it is portrayed, at the time it was portrayed. That said, the book is not overly-scholarly in its approach. Because Asbury is not clear on when he is retelling stories and legends and when he is reporting verifiable facts, the reader is left wondering which pieces are actually true and which are hyperbole.
Also troubling is Asbury's ambivalent attitude towards the gangs and their activities: he vacillates between writing as though he were disgusted by them, tolerant of them, or even a little bit in awe of them. He reports on their "wickedness", but then refers to main players as "heroes".
Overall, this might be a starting point for understanding the atmosphere that gave a foothold to the Mafia and will underscore one's understanding of history for this period, but should only be a starting point.