Armitage Trail

Broschiertes Buch

Scarface

Beschreibung

A brutal, unflinching portrait of ambition, violence, and power, Scarface by Armitage Trail is a cornerstone of American crime literature and the defining novel of the classic gangster era. Set in the smoke-filled backrooms and bloodstained streets of 1920s Chicago, this landmark work follows the rise and fall of Tony "Scarface" Guarino, a cold, brilliant figure determined to claw his way to the top of a criminal empire built on fear, bootlegging, and corruption. As Prohibition fuels the growth of organized crime, rival gangs battle for territory, political favors are bought and sold, and the line between law and lawlessness disappears. Tony's ascent is relentless-driven by ego, strategy, and the ruthless calculus of survival-until violence, betrayal, and paranoia close in with explosive consequence. Trail's prose is urgent and cinematic, combining noir realism with the mythic scale of a rise-and-fall gangster saga. A precursor to modern crime fiction, Scarface exposes the machinery of power in Prohibition-era America, revealing how brutality and charisma can shape a legend-and destroy the person behind it. Gritty, fast-paced, and unsentimental, the novel stands alongside the greatest works of the genre and remains essential for readers drawn to:classic gangster novels Prohibition-era crime fiction 1920s Chicago underworld stories American cultural and film history early twentieth century crime narratives Now recognized as the novel that inspired the iconic films, Scarface endures as a vivid snapshot of a violent age and a chilling examination of how criminal empires rise-and why they fall. A must-read for libraries, collectors, and anyone fascinated by the origins of the American gangster myth.

Autor

Armitage Trail (July 18, 1902 - October 10, 1930) was the pseudonym of Maurice Coons, an American pulp fiction author, best known for his 1930 novel Scarface. This novel depicted a fictionalized account of the rise of gangster Al Capone. It was adapted into the 1932 film Scarface directed by Howard Hawks and produced by Howard Hughes. The 1932 film was later modernized and remade as 1983's Scarface. His only other significant work is detective novel The Thirteenth Guest, though Coons is speculated to have written under a variety of pen names. In his early adulthood in Chicago, Trail spent nights socializing with gang members in order to gain materials for Scarface. Though Trail never formally met Al Capone, the latter may have known of the work. After the release of the 1932 film, at which point Trail was already dead, Capone reportedly sent some of his men to question screenwriter Ben Hecht after Capone was offended at the 1932 film's portrayal of him by actor Paul Muni. Producer Howard Hughes approached Trail about his novel with the interest of adapting it to film. Trail sold the rights to Scarface to Hughes for $25,000, moving to Los Angeles in the process. After selling the rights to Scarface, Trail began to struggle with potential alcoholism. He lived flamboyantly in Hollywood, rapidly gaining weight, wearing wide-brimmed Borsalino hats, and hiring a servant. Trail died of a heart attack at the Paramount Theatre in 1930, aged 28.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Positronic Publishing
• Seitenzahl: 186
• Erscheinungstermin: 1. Januar 2026
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 229mm x 152mm x 10mm
• Gewicht: 279g
• ISBN-13: 9781515469537
• ISBN-10: 1515469530
• Artikelnr.: 76272689