The Heroic Gangster

"This . . . first-rate work of a singular life" tells the true story of the notorious New York City gang leader who became a hero in World War I (Publishers Weekly).

Edward "Monk" Eastman was born in 1873 to a respectable New York family—but he soon took a different path. By the age of eighteen he was running the streets of Lower Manhattan, starting out as a bouncer and worked his way up to gang leader, overseeing an army of two thousand criminals. He was one of the most powerful men in the city.

That all came to an end when he was sentenced to ten years at Sing Sing and lost his territory. By the time he was released, he had few prospects and few skills beyond his natural instincts and courage. He joined the New York National Guard—going from king of the streets to a lowly private.

Against all belief, Monk quickly proved himself when his division went to the frontlines of trench warfare during World War I. He came back to New York a hero and was given a governor's pardon. Finally, he was back on top. But would he truly be able to leave his past behind?

In a true story that is "exquisitely rich with the gang life of New York and the perils of World War I," Neil Hanson colorfully details the history of Monk Eastman, New York, and a pivotal point in our country's history (The Wall Street Journal).