纽约黑帮 (1927)

《纽约黑帮：黑社会的通俗历史》（英语：The Gangs of New York: An Informal History of the Underworld）是一本由赫伯特·阿斯伯里所写的美国非虚构书籍，于1928年首次出版。

内容

本书讲述位于纽约州纽约市的19世纪帮派。详述了在1920年代禁酒令时期黑手党的统治前，帮派的崛起和灭亡。

改编作品

本书被松散地改编成由马丁·斯科塞斯执导的史诗历史电影《纽约黑帮》（2002年）。

The Gangs of New York: An Informal History of the Underworld is an American non-fiction book by Herbert Asbury, first published in 1928 by Alfred A. Knopf.

In 1927, Asbury published an article in The American Mercury, titled "The Old-Time Gangs of New York", which was ultimately incorporated into the book published the following year. Drawing on the muckraking style of the era, the author wrote based on "legend, memory, police records, the self-aggrandizements of aging crooks, popular journalism, and solid historical research", to present an illuminating account of the gangs of old New York that ultimately gave rise to the modern Mafia.

The book formed the basis for a number of films, including Gangs of New York (1938) and Martin Scorsese's 2002 Academy Award nominated film Gangs of New York, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Cameron Diaz.

Description

The book outlines the rise and fall of 19th century gangs in New York City, prior to the domination of the Italian-American Mafia during Prohibition in the 1920s. Focusing on the saloon halls, gambling dens, and winding alleys of the Bowery and the Five Points district of Lower Manhattan, the book evokes the destitution and violence of a turbulent era, when colorfully named criminals like "Dandy" Johnny Dolan, William Poole (also known as "Bill the Butcher"), and Hell-Cat Maggie lurked in the shadows.

Corrupt politicians like William "Boss" Tweed ran the city, and infamous gangs including the Plug Uglies, Dead Rabbits, and Bowery Boys ruled the streets. It includes a rogues' gallery of prostitutes, pimps, poisoners, pickpockets, murderers, and thieves.

The book contains detailed accounts of the New York City Draft Riots of 1863. It elaborates on numerous other criminal influences of the time, including river pirates and the corrupt political establishment, such as Tammany Hall.

Influence

The book has gained a massive cult following, and a wide range of authors continue to mention it in their work. As Russell Shorto writes in his foreword to the 2008 edition by Vintage, "[Asbury's] book became an underground classic because it catalogued the underbelly of New York, which to many is the real New York. His subject is the beast inside every city, and inside every one of us, maybe."

Author Jorge Luis Borges was famously a great fan of The Gangs of New York. His 1935 collection, A Universal History of Infamy (original Spanish title: Historia universal de la infamia) is a direct homage to Asbury's book. Leader of the Jewish-American Eastman Gang, Monk Eastman, and legendary New York-born Wild West outlaw and gunfighter, Billy the Kid, appear in both Asbury's and Borges's books.

Beat Generation author William S. Burroughs named The Gangs of New York as one of his 12 all-time favorite non-fiction titles.

In her 1991 treatise, Low Life: Lures and Snares of Old New York, Lucy Sante discusses many anecdotes about 19th century New York street life made popular through Asbury's book, and she either debunks or confirms them, while simultaneously expanding upon them with her own research findings.

Futurist writer and author of the architecture blog BLDGBLOG Geoff Manaugh references The Gangs of New York in his 2016 book A Burglar's Guide to the City, as he discusses 19th and early 20th century thieves and con men, such as George Leonidas Leslie, whom Asbury mentions multiple times in his book. Manaugh demonstrates how architects can learn valuable things about buildings, and their structural flaws, from professional burglars.