Young Al Capone: The Untold Story of Scarface in New York, 1899-1925

by William Balsamo, John Balsamo

Many people are familiar with the story of Al Capone, the “untouchable” Chicago gangster best known for orchestrating the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. But few are aware that Capone’s remarkable story began in the Navy Yard section of Brooklyn, New York. Tutored by the likes of infamous mobsters Johnny Torrio and Frankie Yale, young Capone’s disquieting demeanor, combined with the “technical advice” he learned from these insidious pedagogues, contributed to the molding of a brutal criminal whose pseudonym, “Scarface,” evoked fascination throughout the world.

Despite the best efforts of previous biographers lacking true insider’s access, details about Capone’s early years have, until now, mostly been shrouded in mystery. With access gained through invaluable familial connections, the authors were able to open the previously sealed mouths of Capone’s known living associates. Collecting information through these interviews and never-before-published documents, the life of young Al Capone at last comes into focus.

Among the many revelations in Young Al Capone are new details about the brutal Halloween Night murder of rival gangster “Wild Bill” Lovett, grisly details on how Capone and his Black Hand crew cleverly planned the shootout and barbaric hatchet slaying of White Hand boss, Richard “Peg Leg” Lonergan, insight into the dramatic incident that forced Capone to leave New York, and much more.

Genres: History, Crime, Biography, Nonfiction, American History

288 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2011

Reviews

[Andy Lind · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best Capone book I have read! This book fills in the holes that most Capone books only briefly touch on. It contains chapters of Capone's early years whereas other books only contain sentences.

[John Ulrich · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was pretty good I would probably give 3.5 stars if I had the option. I think there is a lot of good information if you care about the early life of Capone. He was pretty much built for organized crime in every way. He learned how to be a mobster from Johnny Torrio and Frank Yale and then took it to the extreme.

[Chris Schaffer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was very straightforward and a great chronicle of Capone's early activities. Problem is was that Capone disappears for a good chunk of time late in the book.

[Phil Villarreal · Rating 4 out of 5]

William Balsamo takes dime novel-style liberties as he spins a painterly tale of Al Capone rising up the ranks of the New York mob scene. Gathering historical records, newspaper articles and biographies, he infuses his ear for the way tough-talking thugs thought and acted in the early 20th century.

The poetic license Balsamo takes in "Young Al Capone" helps the figures come to life as characters. He imagines the small talk, inner thoughts and negotiations that went on among the gangsters to tell a story that borders on historical fiction.

The approach is a blinding success for the most part, only occasionally backfiring into mawkish silliness. What emerges is the tale of a troubled, tremendously driven boy who was determined not to live a life of working poverty like his father and brothers. Delving into the underworld with gusto, Capone had a knack for sizing up potential allies and rivals, and ruthlessly dealing with both, ever-arranging everyone around him like pawns on a chess board.

"Young Al Capone" changed my perspective on the underworld king. Although his mind was addled by alcohol and illness in later life, sticking him with the reputation of a doltish, ham-fisted thug, this book shows how smart and clever he was to ascend to the dizzying heights to which he ascended before his talents left him and he devolved into a caricature.

The Audible version, narrated with gusto and admirable acting chops by Daniel May, breathes gangster film-style life into the films. May shifts his accents ably between Italian and Irish accents, giving Capone a distinctly understated voice that reflects his calculating confidence and simmering rage simmering beneath a collected facade.

Rapidly paced and elegantly told, "Young Al Capone" is a gem of a find for those who can't get enough true crime and mob history. It would shine as a TV miniseries, no doubt rising to dominance with the hurried force of Capone himself.

[Sherri · Rating 2 out of 5]

All around I liked this book. I had trouble following the names and who was who sometimes. Along with a nother reviewer I question the validity of conversation and gap fillers in jobs that went down. However, it was interesting to get a glimpse in to the crime life of early New York. I didn't think this was from Capone's first person viewpoint but more of a early New York crime syndicate beginnings.

[Steve · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was very disappointing.
The authors, brothers, are supposed experts on Capone, and the book does cover his early years which are rarely written about, usually glossed over.
The problem with this book is the approach the brothers Balsamo took.
They wrote the biography basically as a novel. It is a fictional used account, which for a 2 hour film is basically a necessity, but for a book is terrible.
The brothers make up entire conversations for instance, right down to the thoughts and minor motions the people have.
I have read plenty of history books, biographical as well as others, and re-creating conversations or what a person thought when there is no possible way to know that just is an awful way to do that.
The brothers also included way too many insignificant moments, that even if they did happen, as I wrote were very insignificant and useless to include.
The topic of the book is very interesting and could use a well written book, this isn’t it.
For an example of what I mean, try reading Tong Wars by Scott Seligman, he didn’t recreate any situations, he wrote a straight forward history of the gangs )tongs) of Chinatown NYC, right around the same time as Young Al Capone took place.

[Taunia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is about the early years of one of the most fascinating mob bosses ever known, Al Capone. From Brooklyn New York to Chicago Illinois, Al Capone a.k.a “Scarface” (a name in which he hated) developed from being just a child into an apprentice with the infamous Brooklyn crime bosses Frankie Yale and Johnny Torrio, then onto a mob boss himself. This book tells us how he got his scarred face and how he rises through the criminal ranks becoming one of the most notoriously feared murderers ever known. He was making hundreds of millions of dollars in the 1920’s, this is a time when you could buy a beer for 5 cents. If you like gangster movies then this is the book for you.

[Bobby Eubanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A.Great Mob Read

This book was hard to put down. The stories revealed could only be told by people who were there. For those who like mob stories I recommend this book.

[Kevin McAvoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining enough. Reads like a cheap crime gang novel, which Capone basically became.
Nothing to admire about the greedy man.

[Clarence Goodman · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is my own fault that I hoped for a gripping biography instead of what felt like historical melodrama. Readable, but not my speed.

[Nick Bello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Didn’t trust some of the info but by the end most of it seems to hold up.

[Linda Lou McCall · Rating 2 out of 5]

I get what authors were trying to to here - create a "prequel" to what is widely known about gangster Al Capone, by making up a fictional account of the first 25 years of Capone's life by setting up reasons for Capone's sociopathic behavior later when he took over the Chicago mob. The problem is that the Balsamo's don't have the least sense of what "literary license" means. They just made up things which belie credibility. How are we to believe that a seasoned Mafia leader like Johnny Torrio quaked in the presence of a 15 year-old Capone who was just an errand boy at the time? The episodes of Capone's crude sexual behaviors are more of what is expected of an adolescent - not the lead-in to the St. Valentine's Day Massacre! That's like writing a story about Ted Bundy as a 10 year old killing animals, masterbating, setting fires, and wetting the bed! Who cares? It's just a back-story to the really gory stuff! This could have been a good effort if more time had been spent in research so that the Balsamo's would not found the need to make up things that just don't make sense. Not worth the price of admission!

[Adam Mayorga · Rating 3 out of 5]

The subject matter is very interesting but this seems to me like the Hollywood version of Capone's life. I am sure the characters and events depicted are all accurate but I wonder where the authors pull all of the dialogue from that is spoken between the characters. It was obviously made up to make the story more interesting and read like a story rather than a biography. But, if you just accept it for what it is it is an enjoyable read.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a solid read. If you are looking for background on the early days fo Capone in new York and Chicago this is a good summary. The book also does a decent job in setting the scene with suggestions around what the specific dialog would be between the real life characters.

I would say this book is about a 3.5 overall but a 4 for any who is not a "Caponiac".

Overall I would receommend.

[Olga · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story of young Capone growing up in Brooklyn. The well written story is easy to read and although I took the detailed descriptions with a grain of salt I have no reason to believe that the two mobster descendant's story was overall untrue.

[Sean Halpin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book offers such vivid details of secretive encounters that it would be foolish to assume it is all fact. Still, the stories are fascinating--particularly the social history and how Capone wove himself into the mobster lifestyle so early in his life.

[Calvin]

Pretty fascinating book, but I question the validity of conversations quoted supposedly word for word that occurred some 90 years ago.

[Alvin H · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the book varied from some parts to be slow and uninteresting while others were very exciting and fast.

[Jim Ford · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was on okay read but the material seemed a bit contrived.

[Hannibal Lecter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and a nice read. Some events seemed a little too stretched for non-fiction but nonetheless great.