Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City by Nelson JohnsonMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I was drawn to read this book after finding it was a basis for the cable series featuring two of my favorite actors: Steve Buscemi and Michael Shannon - bonus this is narrated by Joe Montegna! Much more than prohibition era, the arc of this tale is from the undeveloped island owned by a Revolutionary War vet to rail era development to prohibition to the decline post-WW II and post-Mafia casino era of Wynn, Donald Trump, and more. The crime drama television series created by Terence Winter and airing on HBO plucks from this the best material from the rise of organized crime's success in Atlantic City and historical criminal kingpin Enoch L. Johnson. The book goes into detail on the syndicate operations involving Luciano, Meyer Lansky, et al.
This book is also a primer on bossism, the U.S. historical system of political control centering about a single powerful figure (the boss) and a complex organization of lesser figures (the machine) bound together by reciprocity in promoting financial and social self-interest. Bossism depended upon manipulation of the voters and thus always had some aspects of corruption and fraud, here centered around a Republican Party machine. Control of blocks of votes with favoritism and force enabled bosses and machines to secure the nomination and election or appointment of candidates for public office; the officers thus chosen respond by advancing the interests of the machine.
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