Mr. Capone: The Real—and Complete—Story of Al Capone

by Robert J. Schoenberg

    All I ever did was to sell beer and whiskey to our best people. All I ever did was to supply a demand that was pretty popular.    Why, the very guys that make my trade good are the ones that yell the loudest about me. Some of the leading judges use the stuff.

    When I sell liquor, it's called bootlegging. When my patrons serve it on silver trays on Lake Shore Drive, it's called hospitality.



-- Al Capone

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

504 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 1992

Reviews

[Benjamin Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a reader of crime fiction, I have long been fascinated by the era of prohibition and the resulting crime that it undoubtedly enabled. But I realized I was only getting my impressions from fictional novels and stories and so a couple of years ago I embarked on an effort to read some biographies of the fascinating figures associated with the era. I started with the excellent biography of Bonnie and Clyde, Go Down Together: The True, Untold Story of Bonnie and Clyde (which turned out to be among the very best books I read that year) but haven’t really read any such biographies since then. Time to rectify that with perhaps the biggest name in crime of all time, certainly one of the giants of the 20th century, Alphonse Capone.

This biography is a thorough depiction of the life of Al Capone. I got most of what I was hoping for during my reading of it: how he rose from the tutelage of Chicago gangster John Torrio, through his years as efficient gangster leader, through the tax trials (boy, Capone sure needed a better defense team) and on into his years of incarceration as Alcatraz’s first celebrity boarder. Along the way I learned a lot about how Chicago gangland crime worked (and didn’t work) as well as the truth behind the Saint Valentine’s Day massacre, at least as much as is known. The most interesting parts for me were actually the later parts of the book where we get a peek into Capone’s life behind bars, first at Atlanta and then at the newly modified Alcatraz.

Unfortunately, much of the book was simply too detailed. Large parts of it read like an encyclopedia with literally hundreds of small events involving hundreds of criminals. Far too many for me to keep track of and I found myself wanting to skim through much of this, although I didn’t and pushed on through anyway. Many of those events and people were only peripherally related to Capone and some not at all. I couldn’t find much about the author but I now wonder if perhaps he is a journalist or even a lawyer based on his style. The book is almost all facts and includes many quotes from onlookers. It is certainly well researched and contains a full hundred pages of endnotes and references. I guess I just wish the book were more about Capone himself than about everything he may or may not have influenced. In the end, while I believe I have a good understanding of what happened, I’m not sure I have a good feel for the man himself.

[LATOYA JOVENA · Rating 3 out of 5]

Extremely detailed. More an overly explained history of prohibition era Chicago than a Capone biography. There are so many players that I find it difficult to focus, but when I did focus I learned a lot.
Capone was much more than a thug. He ran an illegal Fortune 500 company and had a huge heart. His death was undignified and unfit the great man he was.

[Ian Raffaele · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to think, but I've had this book in my possession for 21 years. I only ever read sections of the book whenever I wanted to learn something specific on Capone. Recently, I decided to "right the wrong" of never reading the whole tome from cover to cover in an effort to fill in all the details I had missed over the years. My only regret is that I never did so decades sooner. Robert Schoenberg writes a brilliant biography in the narrative style that is easy for any reader. His research is very well done. I regret not reading this book before I picked up Dierdre Capone's book "Uncle Al Capone". If you want the definitive biography on Snorky, this is the book to read.

[Melissa Loucks · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book seemed to take forever to get around to the crimes of Capone. I was happy to finally read about the Valentine's Day Massacre but it took a long time to get to it.

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read several books on Al Capone, all with slightly different variations on specific events. The author of Mr. Capone jumps so fast from one person to another at the beginning of the book it is hard to keep track of who is who. But Mr. Capone is a good read, very detailed. I owned it and I will read it again in the future. Some say that the baseball bat banquet never happened, or that Al wasn't involved. Seems to me that would have been beneath him. Anybody have any thoughts on that.

[Dil Nawaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is evident that crime flourishes when it finds sanctuary within the very institutions designed to uphold the law. The presence of rogue elements within establishments such as the military, law enforcement, and the judiciary provides fertile ground for criminal organizations or mafias to infiltrate and seize control of entire cities or even entire nations. Without the complicity or corruption within these institutions, the unchecked expansion of criminal groups would be virtually impossible.

Robert J. Schoenberg offers a fresh and comprehensive perspective on one of the most infamous figures in American history. Al Capone's life has been the subject of countless books, films, and legends, but Schoenberg's meticulous research and engaging narrative breathe new life into the story of this notorious gangster.

One of the book's standout features is the extensive research undertaken by the author. Schoenberg takes readers on a journey through Al Capone's life, delving into the smallest details of his upbringing, criminal activities, and the web of connections that surrounded him.

Furthermore, Mr. Capone is not just a biography; it also paints a vivid picture of the Prohibition era, the rise of organized crime in Chicago, and the social and political landscape of the time. Schoenberg skillfully weaves these elements into Capone's story, providing a broader context for readers to understand the significance of his life and actions.

Story of Al Capone" is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of organized crime, the Prohibition era, or the enigmatic life of Al Capone. Robert J. Schoenberg's meticulous research, engaging narrative, and well-balanced portrayal of the subject make this book a definitive and enlightening biography of one of America's most iconic gangsters.

[Gonzalo · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great book about a great man. Or a bad book about a bad man?
I really do not know. I think this is the first True Crime I have ever read, so I do not have much to compare to. Schoenberg might be one of those people a bit too sympathetic with gangsters, businessmen by other means, but I will accept he offers a compelling portrait: Not too lurid, not to grandiose. Perhaps its biggest drawback, and I am glad a number of reviewers agreed on this, is that at times it is almost a list of names. Too many crooks, cops, and politicians show up for the uninitiated to keep them straight. Certainly people already familiar with Chicago in the 1920’s will get more out of it, and I hope to do the same during a second read.
Because of the recent movie with Tom Hardy, I was hoping to read a bit more on his final years, on which Schoenberg does not spend much time. However, an equally hard period for Capone had to be his time in prison, and here we do get plenty of information. The expected topics and characters are covered in enough detail: Torrio, bootlegging, O’Bannon, the Gennas, St. Valentin’s Masacre, taxes… The exception being the Untouchables. Certainly after Brian De Palma’s film—a childhood favorite of mine, sorry—Schoenberg should have a bit more to say, even if he knows just as well as we do that Ness did not bring Capone down.

[Craig Schorling · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always had a strong interest in the mobster/gangster era in American History. It is such a surreal and different time. This book is very well researched and full with names and facts. The book ends at 67% on my Kindle and the rest is notes and research. At times it is too much. It became incredibly difficult to follow along at times as a result. There were other times where things were very focused and I found myself enjoying this book tremendously. If you enjoy learning about Prohibition era gangsters and the way things were in our country at that time, then this is a good book for you. Just be ready to take a lot of information in at times.

[Michael Bliss · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's always hard for a pure.biography to grip it's reader in style or flair. This mostly does, though at points editorializes too much to do so. The beat by beat descriptions of his middle life from each racket to the next is probably not needed. And while the 100+ pages of notes and research content is nice to confirm the validity of his displayed work, it distorts how long the book actually is. However it gets to the heart of a fascinating man whose run was much shorter than I had perceived, less connected with Chicago than New York in reality, and connects a much older 19th century world with a more modern post WWII era that is a bit jarring.

[Emily Schaefer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thoroughly researched, yet poorly written. How do you make Al Capone boring? I hate the way this author introduces characters and I would’ve put down the book if i wasn’t so intent on finishing it. If you can look past the frustrating syntax, you will learn lots, but my
God does this book need a rewrite (also a timeline, family tree, annotated map, and “business” chart). Three stars for the info, but I’d give the writing only one.

[Kathleen B Rybeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Complete and comprehensive facets of Al Capones peersonality

A start to finish of Capones life and the influences that made the man a demon to some and hero to others. Very complex personality showcasing his inner needs and desires. I think we all can see some parts of Capone in ourselves if we are completely honest to ourselves. Most don't have the drive to satisfy those needs as simply and completely as our subject achieved.

[Alyssa Harvey · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Capone life is very interesting but this writer is so boring. Didn't feel like suffering through to finish it.

[Joy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Interesting, but wayyyyy to wordy! Too much about others, not enough about Capone!

[Vincenzo Ridente · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remember borrowing this book from my public library once and I highly recommend it if you want an ultimate biography on Al Capone

[Mark Harden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitive, fascinating and well written.

[Kaylee Sims · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr.Capone by Robert J. Schoenberg
Kaylee Sims 12/8/13
Mr. Capone by Robert Schoenberg takes you back in time to understand the life of Capone, with his family, colleagues, and crime. The book displays how Capone's life started and how it changed up until his death. Schoenberg brings out all the details, not only of his father and mother, but his closest friends and enemies. Schoenberg made it easy to get to know the characters, and you are able to understand them. It is the true story of the life of Al Capone,and the book gives wonderful detail and important facts.
Schoenberg starts out explaining the family and later describes when Capone became interesting in crime. He gives a nice layout of what the time period was like, and what it would of been like to live in downtown Chicago. The authors purpose is to give you good details and facts, in hopes you might understand the life of Capone. He explains how the power juggled between men and Capone did everything he could to retrieve that power. You see the deceit and sneaky living that comes with being a crime boss, and how the public reacted in the mean time.
The style and theme of the book is displayed by the downfall of Capone. You do not get everything you want, and Schoenberg showed this in his book. He wrote using the views of many different people, that way you have a better understanding of the prohibition. Some used it towards their advantage, like Capone but others did not.
Robert Schoenberg wants to explain the rise and downfall of Capone.He is known as a famous gangster, and Schoenberg does a great job of telling why. It gives you a good account of his life leaving you with a sense you know Al Capone yourself. Schoenberg's words draw the reader in with his detailed biography that keeps you reading and reading.

[Mikey Chalupa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mikey Chalupa
Waldorf – Hour 2
ELA 11
20 October 2015
Schoenberg conveys Capone’s edgy behavior by telling stories about when he bartended as a teenager. In the beginning of the text, Capone is a bouncer and a bartender at the Harvard Inn. He was interested in a girl and begins to mouth off crude words to her. Her older brother Gallucio, did not take kindly to this. When Capone says, “You got a nice ass honey and I mean it as a compliment, believe me,”(33) Schoenberg then says “He clawed for his knife [Gallucio] from his pocket and lunged, later doctors took about 30 stitches to his [Capone] face,”(34), the reader sees that Capone is involved in a dangerous job ,and his personality caused him to get into trouble. This edgy behavior causes conflict in his peers and enemies, which later leads to killing. Towards the end of the book the reader begins to see Capone’s thoroughness and his intelligence. When Schoenberg says, “Wilson and his people had been diligently pursuing a link between Capone and provable income for two years, Wilson told Irey, Capone had not seemed to make a mistake, of approximately one million checks two bore Capone’s endorsement,” (298), the reader sees that Capone was very intelligent in knowing the feds were eventually going to be looking for him, so his thoroughness helped keep him safe. This attention to detail is the reason Capone was able to be successful, and the reason it was so hard for the police to catch him. In the sense of his helpful attributes, Capone is an admirable figure not because of the things he did, but his smarts and thoroughness when doing them.\

[Ice · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I guess it's all over," Al Capone told his lawyer after being sentenced to prison for tax evasion in October 1931. But, as Schoenberg ( Geneen ) diligently shows, the public has never gotten over its obsession with the legendary mobster. Schoenberg traces Capone's life from his Brooklyn boyhood (he was a notable delinquent) through his famous Chicago years to his release from prison in 1939 and his death from neurosyphilis. This fast-paced, fact-filled, behind-the-scenes account of a skilled and brutal gangster lays bare the realities behind the myths about a man still known throughout the world 45 years after his death. Schoenberg's lively biography resonates with details of Capone's dealings with other gangsters, the press, government agents and agencies.

From Library Journal
Although his reign as Chicago mob boss only lasted from 1926 to 1931, Al Capone endures as America's most infamous gangster. Schoenberg, author of the biography Geneen ( LJ 1/85), presents a serious, well-researched portrait of Capone and his times. Capone was a product of the Prohibition era, and while one segment of society was horrified by the corruption and killings associated with him, another identified with his flouting of the blue laws. His celebrity was his downfall: "It was my own fault. Publicity--that's what got me." After a seven-year prison term for tax evasion, he died of syphilis in 1947.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book i read was, "Mr. Capone", by Robert J. Schoenberg. It is the biography of the notorious Chicago gangster Al Capone. While you have heard of him, you probably don't know as much as you think you do. This is why i think that the author wrote the book, to show you the things that you couldn't see about him. So that now the world can learn about the gangster. I believe that the theme of the book was informal, and to teach. it is informational about the man, and teachers people, and taught me some different facts that i was not already aware of. The style is the same thing as same thing as the theme. They both fall under the classification of informational, it is a biography that teacher you about the main character, Al Capone.
The authors opinion i think is obviously, that from some aspects yes Capone was a bad guy, but intentionally he wasn't really that bad of a guy. yes he did brutally kill people, and robbed others. He also started charities for the poor, looked out for those he needed it, and started just to make a quick dime in this crazy place we call earth.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that’s very easy to review. Schoenberg updates John Kobler’s Capone bio of 20+ years earlier – as well as adding focus. Similarly the author doesn’t wander too far afield as Laurence Bergreen’s bio does – an author whose books I enjoy by the way – avoiding speculation on Capone’s alleged cocaine addiction, his mental deterioration due to syphilis and his long lost brother “Two-Gun” Hart. And this book is more encompassing/detailed than Jonathan Eig’s recent book – Getting Capone - although Eig’s is an excellent supplement to the Capone story.

Rereading Mr. Capone after at least 15 years, in this humble reader’s opinion this is still the definitive biography on this famous gangster and Prohibition-era Chicago. If the subject and the times are of any interest – you need look no further.

Highly recommended.

[Molly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried to read this one since the last couple books I've read got me interested in Chicago history & I figured it wouldn't be complete without some insight into Capone. This book was terrible. Stringed together a bunch of facts about little known periphery characters with no apparent significance. Completely artless 'foreshadowing' in the form of "...as we will see later." or "...we will look at this more soon". The author also had a habit of telling the life story of a person including how he/she died and then resurrecting them in a later chapter.

These are the history books that give history a bad rap.

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been several years since I've read, and reread this book. Let me just say if your new to reading about the history of organized crime, the Prohibition Era in Chicago, or the Prohibition Era in general. This book should be near the top of the list of books to read. As you might of guessed its on one of the most famous, if not infamous mobsters in American History.

The book traces Capone's roots from his childhood years in New York, and then to his rise to power as 1920s Chicago gangland chieftain. Along the way highlighting the friends, & foes, involved in his colorful, yet interesting life.

[Juliet Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book was fairly decent at explaining Capone's actions as well as the federal government's relentless drive to lock him up, the book was inaccurate regarding the North Side gang leaders. To be fair, some of the information now known (eg. Moran's birth name) would have been extremely difficult for the author to track down at the time this book was written. A fairly good overview of Al Capone, warts and all, that reveals his softer side. Readers looking for a more accurate picture of the North Side gang should seek out "Guns and Roses: The Untold Story of Dean O'Bannion" by Rose Keefe, as well as "The Man Who Got Away: The Bugs Moran Story" by Rose Keefe.

[Brian Merrill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book did a nice job telling the story of Al Capone. It was well researched and well written. The first several chapters, however, spent so much time gong off on tangents, that I at first lost interest. However, as I got into the later chapters I was very satisfied with the content. It shows a picture of Al Capone, the man, versus Al Capone, the mobster. A very thorough read, with numerous typos and a somewhat boring first third of the book, I just can't give it more than 3 stars.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good biography of one of the most famous people of the 20th century. Though Capone achieved iconic status and appears to have been quite charming, let's not forget he killed people. I have no problem with the businesses he was in (except the brothels, bribery and extortion). But I have a big problem with murder!

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is entertaining, well written, and packed with information. It is, however, extremely dense. I found myself needing to keep a notebook to record the names of all the incidental characters who peopled Capone's life. Well worth reading.

[Walt · Rating 3 out of 5]

There does not seem to be much more than what John Kobler had written many years earlier. However, there are more photos, a little more detail, and some incidental history.

[Teawench · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd give this book more stars but I couldn't finish it due to all the grammatical and punctuation errors.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very detailed bio of Big Al. Slow read but worth it. A lot of the book concerned itself with Chicago politics of the 20's. Now I know where the heritage came from.

[Frater · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good information, just the writing was overwhelming and not paced in a manner that made you want to read the whole thing.