The Gangs of Chicago: An Informal History of the Chicago Underworld (Illinois) Paperback – September 25, 2002

Good reading especially if your from Chicago. Funny to see no matter how things change, they stay the same! Chicago's reputation was/is well deserved!

This book is great background for the history of chicago

Chicago gangsters.

The Gangs of Chicago is a great book to read if you are interested with history about Illinois and how it came to be. The book revolves around some of the most famous gangsters that roamed the streets of Chicago in 1940. It talks about counties and how they were named what they were named. I learned a lot more about how Illinois is designed through this book.

I found Asbury's other "gangs" book wonderful and informative. This is no exception. Entertaining and instructive about the time and people.

Being the newspaper man he was, he really gives us an interesting look in to the seedy Chicago city. With vivid accounts of all kinds of crime, major characters in the crime rage phenomenon of the early 20's in America.

good book

Product was as described and arrived promptly.

Ok this book is not quite what I thought it might be, what I mean is that it focuses a lot more on the saloons, houses of prostitution and maybe a few strong arm people, than it does the actual gangs of Chicago. Don't get me wrong, it does tell you a lot about the early gangs of Chicago, It just takes until about the early 200s pages, when the immigration of the Sicilians and Italians to Chicago really starts to happen, to get to it. All in all, if you are interested in the origins of Chicago and the start of the underworld in Chicago, then I would definitely recommend this book.

64 years on from its appearance as 'Gem on the Prairie' Herbert Asbury's history of Chicago gangs has lost none of its relevence.So much mythology surrounds men like Capone and Walter Mitty that it's surprising that no contemporary account seperates myth from reality. The prose is crisp, insightful, intelligent; the story beautifully told; and, above all else, absolutely fascinating.One of the best gangster books I've ever read.

A mildly amusing history of the development of the 'under-belly' of Chicago..but it does tend to drag on a bit...ok if someone is particularly interested in reading about the rise of the nefarious elements of Chicago from a purely historical perspective, but not for someone who is expecting it to read more like a novel/tale. Tends to be a bit confusing and repetitive in its description of the characters (all real) and general criminal activities that gradually took shape in the city over time. The information, in my point of view, could have been presented better.

I havent actually started reading it yet but was a bit disappointed that there are very few pictures to help you put faces to the names. Also, half the index is missing, dont know where thats gone!

I haven't read this yet. I've given 3 stars, because the few pages, here and there, I have read seem ok.