Think you got what it takes to survive in the merciless world of organised crime? Then get ready to meet the most formidable gangs on Earth, from the Peaky Blinders of the early 1900s to the Italian crime syndicates and their American counterparts in the Mob. And that's just for starters. The ruthless prison gangs, street thugs such as MS-13 and even a group who specialise in stealing people's hair all lurk inside this latest bookazine from the creators of All About History.
“I’m gonna make you an offer you can’t refuse…”
Industrial Violence
Britain’s First Gangs • BEFORE THE PEAKY BLINDERS, A ROGUES’ GALLERY OF LESSER-KNOWN CROOKS TERRORISED NUMEROUS CITIES AND TOWNS IN BRITAIN
The Real Peaky Blinders • HOW THE GANG KNOWN AS THE PEAKY BLINDERS CAME TO DOMINATE THE CRIMINAL UNDERWORLD IN TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY BIRMINGHAM
Dressed to Kill
Gangs of New York • MEET THE CUT-THROAT KILLERS WHO ONCE PROWLED THE STREETS OF THE BATTLEGROUND THAT WAS THE 19TH-CENTURY FIVE POINTS AREA
Draft Riots • FOR FOUR NIGHTS IN 1863, NEW YORK CITY ERUPTED IN A MAELSTROM OF BLOODSHED
The Legend of Piker Ryan • THIS VICIOUS CRIMINAL WAS RUMOURED TO CHARGE $15 TO CHEW OFF A MAN’S EAR
Making the Mob
Interview with a Mafia Expert • WE SPOKE TO ANTONIO NICASO, AUTHOR AND ADVISER TO LAW-ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THE WORLD OVER, ABOUT A LIFE DEDICATED TO EXPOSING THE TRUE NATURE OF ORGANISED CRIME
Prohibition and the Mob • PROHIBITION PROVIDED EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITIES FOR AMERICAN GANGSTERS TO PROFIT FROM THE ILLEGAL BOOTLEGGING TRADE IN BANNED ALCOHOL AND EMPOWERED THE CRIMINAL ORGANISATION KNOWN AS ‘THE MOB’
The Tommy Gun
Generational Conflict
A timeline of Prohibition and the American Mob
Boss of BOSSES • IN THE HEYDAY OF THE AMERICAN DREAM, THE GOVERNMENT DIDN’T WANT TO ADMIT THE U.S. HAD AN ORGANISED CRIME PROBLEM, BUT IN 1957, THE NATION MET THE MOB ANYWAY
Double-edged Sword • IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE MEETING THE SMALL VILLAGE HAD TO DEAL WITH BEING THRUST INTO NATIONAL HEADLINES
Family Affair • The majority of ‘most noteworthy’ Mob affiliates detained were from the reigning Five Families based in New York, followed by Pennsylvania, New England and so down the line. The presence of Tampa’s Santo Trafficante, Jr., was also quite a big deal. Many of the families and offshoots sent at least two to three representatives, and three of the actual ‘bosses’ of New York families were present.
All Downhill From Here • APALACHIN OPENED THE DOOR FOR THE MOST SCANDALOUS REVELATIONS YET
Top Dons • MEET SOME OF THE MOST FORMIDABLE GODFATHERS OF ORGANISED CRIME
Women of the Underworld • WHOEVER SAID CRIME WAS A MAN’S WORLD NEVER CROSSED PATHS WITH THESE RUTHLESS LADIES
Eastern Promise
Japan’s Infamous Yakuza Family • THE YAKUZA ARE FEARED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, BUT IT IS THE GANG’S KNACK FOR FINANCE AND CORRUPTION, NOT VIOLENCE, THAT MAKES THEM SO SUCCESSFUL
The Big Four Families
Honour Among Thieves? • THE YAKUZA MIXES FEAR WITH CHARITY, REFLECTING THE SOCIAL DEPRIVATION MOST MEMBERS COME FROM
Samurai Syndicate
The 14k Triad • THE MOST INFAMOUS HEIR TO CHINA’S CENTURIES-OLD SECRET SOCIETIES, THE 14K TRIAD MIX AMBITIOUS OPPORTUNISM WITH SAVAGE VIOLENCE TO RULE HONG KONG’S UNDERWORLD
The Secret Language of the Triad • TRIADS TRADITIONALLY USED HAND SIGNALS TO COMMUNICATE. THESE ARE SOME OF THE MORE ELABORATE
The Way of the Initiate • THE TRIADS ONCE HELD ELABORATE CEREMONIES TO WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
The Russian Mafia • KNOWN IN THEIR MOTHERLAND AS VORY V ZAKONE OR BRATVA, THESE GANGLAND TSARS ARE NEITHER NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK NOR CLONES OF THE FAMED COSA...