I read this book about a year ago after "finding" it at a warehouse sale.I had not heard of it before;but was taken by the dust jacket and a quick glance.What a surprise,I almost couldn't belive how much I enjoyed it.As I said, I'd not heard of it or for that matter,the author.Here's a case where you can tell a book by it's cover.Then to my surprise we got all the publicity about a movie "The Gangs Of New York".So,off I went to see the movie,and Lo and Behold,it's basically the same story! There is much more detail in the book;but if your fort is bloody violence,movies like "the Untouchables" and "The Godfather"were more like Sunday School picnics.Both the book and the movie are good in their own ways.This book gives a good view of the Irish immigration in NYC up to the time of the civil war.It details in NYC what Kenelly does worldwide in "The Great Shame"