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2nd out of 23 books
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John Dillinger: The Life and Death of America's First Celebrity Criminal
by
Dary Matera
Best-selling author Dary Matera sets the Dillinger record straight, seventy years after the outlaw's death. John Dillinger is an adrenaline-fueled narrative that reignites America's fascination with the suave but deadly desperado who was the FBI's first "Public Enemy." Dubbed "The Jackrabbit" because of the way he leaped over bank cages and railings, Di...more
Hardcover, 416 pages
Published
April 18th 2004
by Da Capo Press
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I loved this book. Matera is charmingly bold in his bias toward the gangsters and possibly unnecessarily harsh in his treatment of law enforcement officers, but the book still rings true. It is a thorough and detailed look at the life and misadventures of Dillinger, and if some sections are bogged down with lists of how much ammunition the gang was carrying in each car, the book on the whole moves with a determined and muscular pace. Matera's descriptions of gun battles and narrow escapes are be...more
Fascinating, and written in a very readable style. Matera takes pains to show Dillinger as a man as well as the famous crook, telling us he often washed the dishes after supper while his girlfriend relaxed, and he had a special fondness for children. My favorite moment is when Dillinger’s trying to corral his girlfriend’s puppy, and two Chicago cops actually stop and help Dillinger catch the little critter.
This book is amazing because John Dillinger is now so documented that they literally know his every move almost everyday and every hour he was eluding the newly formed FBI. I didn't know JD was the reason the FBI was created.
This book is well structured, and I give it credit because even though there are so many books on JD this one read like it was new news.
This book is well structured, and I give it credit because even though there are so many books on JD this one read like it was new news.
Recommended by my Sister. Chronicles John's life & activities. I recognized most of the places where they either robbed the bank, were in Jail, or where they were hiding out at. Visited the Little Bohemia and saw the glass with bullet holes. It's only 20 miles from the Cottage.
Susie Doneff
added it
I love this book and found it very exciting. John Dillinger was very charismatic and did love women. He was also real witty and a jackrabbit.
A treasure trove of information entertainingly written - maybe a little too much so in some cases.
Reads like a movie, only it's real life. Highly entertaining. Captivating and exciting. You will learn a ton about life during the time and how much he influenced celebrity culture even today.
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