{"product_id":"top-hoodlum-isbn-9780806538709","title":"Top Hoodlum","description":"\u003cb\u003eBOTH FRANK COSTELLO AND VITO GENOVESE FEATURE AS MAIN CHARACTERS PLAYED BY ROBERT DE NIRO IN THE FILM \u003ci\u003eTHE ALTO KNIGHTS\u003c\/i\u003e, WRITTEN BY NICHOLAS PILEGGI AND DIRECTED BY BARRY LEVINSON.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Anthony DeStefano, \u003ci\u003eTop Hoodlum\u003c\/i\u003e is the definitive book on the man who defined the Mafia as we know it: Frank “The Prime Minister” Costello. From a dirt-poor childhood in southern Italy, Costello rose through the ranks of New York's Mafia and became its most public face, even becoming the inspiration for \u003ci\u003eThe Godfather\u003c\/i\u003e’s Don Corleone. Now with new FBI revelations, eyewitness accounts, family mementos, and never-before-published material, \u003ci\u003eTop Hoodlum\u003c\/i\u003e takes readers inside the life of the preeminent Mob boss of the 20th century.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe press nicknamed him “The Prime Minister of the Underworld.” The U.S. Treasury's Bureau of Narcotics described him as “one of the most powerful and influential Mafia leaders in the U.S.” But to friends and associates, he was simply “Uncle Frank.” Who was Frank Costello really? That's the question Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Anthony M. DeStefano sets out to answer—in his definitive portrait of one of the most fascinating figures in the annals of American crime . . .\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUsing newly released FBI files, eyewitness accounts, and family mementos, \u003ci\u003eTop Hoodlum\u003c\/i\u003e takes you inside the Mafia that Frank Costello helped build from the ground up, from small time bootlegging and gambling to a nationwide racketeering empire.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eTop Hoodlum\u003c\/i\u003e by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Anthony M. DeStefano:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A longtime journalist, DeStefano writes clearly about the case . . . Readers also know when they are in capable hands. DeStefano knows gangsters and mob history.” \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e—Sunday Star Ledger \u003c\/i\u003eon \u003ci\u003eThe Big Heist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Terrific. He finally gives us a fitting end to the murderous and fabled story of the 1978 Lufthansa heist.” \u003cb\u003e—Nicholas Pileggi, author of \u003ci\u003eWiseguy and Casino\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“This is a dark, informed, and effective bio, and DeStefano is a master at cutting through the secrecy of the Mafia hierarchy.” \u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e on \u003ci\u003eVinny Gorgeous\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“DeStefano’s book tracks the downfall not only of Massino himself but all of the old organized crime families . . . DeStefano gives us unique insights.” \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e—New York Law Journal \u003c\/i\u003eon \u003ci\u003eKing of the Godfathers\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Thrilling American crime writing.” \u003cb\u003e—Jimmy Breslin, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Good Rat\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“DeStefano vividly recalls the crime boss whose wounding by an assassin in 1957 got a bugger headline in the \u003ci\u003eDaily News\u003c\/i\u003e than the death of Senator Joseph McCarthy.” \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e—The New York Times \u003c\/i\u003eon\u003ci\u003e Top Hoodlum\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Biography of a low-profile ‘original gangster’ who connected the Prohibition era and the Five Families, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist DeStefano creates another readable, well-researched take on organized crime . . . Will appeal to readers of criminal histories and tales of New York's political underworld.” \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e—Kirkus Reviews \u003c\/i\u003eon\u003ci\u003e Top Hoodlum\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist DeStefano draws from recently released FBI documents, family testimony, and court records to construct an engrossing chronicle of the life of notorious Mafia boss Frank Costello, a ‘reluctant prince of the Mafia’ . . . The book provides ample historical background, including a fascinating historical twist in which Costello’s quest for legitimacy plays out during WWII when Costello and cohort Charles ‘Lucky’ Luciano supplied the military with vital information on Sicilian geography just before the Allied invasion in 1943. DeStefano’s canny insight into the don's mind and motivations set this biography apart from others on Costello.” \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e—Publishers Weekly \u003c\/i\u003eon\u003ci\u003e Top Hoodlum\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for Anthony M. DeStefano\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eJIMMY THE GENT\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“At last! Anthony M. DeStefano’s \u003ci\u003eJimmy the Gent\u003c\/i\u003e explains the mystery behind Jimmy Burke being the only Irishman at the Mob’s Italian table.” \u003cb\u003e—Nicholas Pileggi, bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eWiseguy\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eCasino\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBROADWAY BUTTERFLY: VIVIAN GORDON\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Mob expert Tony DeStefano tells the little-known story of Vivian Gordon, one of Prohibition’s most notorious racketeers, who, along with the corrupt cops and politicians of her day, set New York on a crooked path that is often followed today.” \u003cb\u003e—Nicholas Pileggi, bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eWiseguy\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eCasino\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“DeStefano wrangles the sprawling implications of Gordon’s still unsolved murder into an entertaining package. DeStefano paints an alluring portrait of Prohibition-era New York and the mobsters and millionaires who ran it.” \u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eGOTTI’S BOYS\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“In this solid true crime account, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist DeStefano explores the inner machinations of the New York Mob and John Gotti’s rise to the head of the Gambino family . . . DeStefano does a fine job capturing the essence of New York . . . Aficionados are sure to relish the finer, exhaustively researched details.” \u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTOP HOODLUM\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“DeStefano vividly recalls the crime boss whose wounding by an assassin in 1957 got a bigger headline in the\u003ci\u003e Daily News \u003c\/i\u003ethan the death of Senator Joseph McCarthy.” \u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eThe New York Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist DeStefano draws from recently released FBI documents, family testimony, and court records to construct an engrossing chronicle of the life of notorious Mafia boss Frank Costello, a ‘reluctant prince of the Mafia’ . . . The book provides ample historical background, including a fascinating historical twist in which Costello’s quest for legitimacy plays out during WWII when Costello and cohort Charles ‘Lucky’ Luciano supplied the military with vital information on Sicilian geography just before the Allied invasion in 1943. DeStefano’s canny insight into the don’s mind and motivations set this biography apart from others on Costello.” \u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Biography of a low-profile ‘original gangster’ who connected the Prohibition era and the Five Families, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist DeStefano creates another readable, well-researched take on organized crime . . . Will appeal to readers of criminal histories and tales of New York’s political underworld.” \u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTHE BIG HEIST\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Terrific. DeStefano finally gives us a fitting end to the murderous and fabled story of the 1978 Lufthansa heist.” \u003cb\u003e—Nicholas Pileggi, author of \u003ci\u003eWiseguy\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eCasino\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“A comprehensive account of the legendary 1978 heist . . . impressive.” \u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A longtime journalist, DeStefano writes clearly about the case . . . Readers also know when they are in capable hands. DeStefano knows gangsters and Mob history.” \u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eThe Star-Ledger\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eVINNY GORGEOUS\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A dark, informed, and effective bio, and DeStefano is a master at cutting through the secrecy of the Mafia hierarchy.” \u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Dramatic . . . thrilling . . . tantalizing.” \u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eKING OF THE GODFATHERS\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Riveting.” \u003cb\u003e—Nicholas Pileggi, bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eWiseguy\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eCasino\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“The best and last word on the subject . . . DeStefano brings the story to life.” \u003cb\u003e—Jerry Capeci, bestselling co-author of \u003ci\u003eMurder Machine \u003c\/i\u003eand creator of GangLandNews.com\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Thrilling American crime writing.” \u003cb\u003e—Jimmy Breslin, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of \u003ci\u003eThe Good Rat\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Tracks the downfall not only of Massino himself but all of the old organized crime families . . . DeStefano gives us unique insights.” \u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eNew York Law Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eAnthony M. DeStefano\u003c\/b\u003e is a Pulitzer Prize and Emmy Award-winning journalist, author, and preeminent Mob historian. He has covered criminal justice and organized crime for more than three decades as a reporter for \u003ci\u003eNewsday\u003c\/i\u003e and appeared as an expert source on HISTORY’s documentary series \u003ci\u003eAmerican Godfathers: The Five Families\u003c\/i\u003e. His books on the subject include \u003ci\u003eJimmy the Gent\u003c\/i\u003e,\u003ci\u003e Broadway Butterfly\u003c\/i\u003e,\u003ci\u003e The Big Heist\u003c\/i\u003e,\u003ci\u003e King of the Godfathers\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Deadly Don\u003c\/i\u003e,\u003ci\u003e Top Hoodlum\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eGotti’s Boys\u003c\/i\u003e, among others. He can be found online at TonyDeStefano.com.","brand":"Citadel","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48233794011365,"sku":"NP9780806538709","price":18.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780806538709.jpg?v=1767742823","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/top-hoodlum-isbn-9780806538709","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}