Willie sutton, the notorious depressionera bank robber who was on the fbis first ever most wanted list, is released from prison on christmas eve and takes a newspaper reporter and photographer on a trip down. Discover book depositorys huge selection of j r moehringer books online. Moehringer at elliott bay book company in seattle, wa. Moehringer is a former nieman fellow at harvard university. Moehringer tells sutton s story in flashbacks, beginning on christmas eve, 1969, as a gubernatorial pardon by the banker nelson rockefeller releases sutton from attica, where he was serving. A fictionalized account of willie sutton, one of the most notorious criminals in american history, traces his life, his doomed romance with his first love, and his surprise pardon on christmas eve in 1969. Willie sutton, one of the most famous bank robbers of his time, was almost forgotten until j. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices.
In my mind, it deserves to win a big literary prize, be it a pulitzer, national book award, booker, or whatever. A biographical novel of the notorious bank robber willie sutton. I have had a paperback copy for a year or so, but finally got around to listening to it a download from the local library, while im here in minneapolis taking care of my parents who are in their 80s. Willie sutton was born in the irish slums of brooklyn in 1901, and he came of age at a time when banks were out of control. In all of suttons crimes and confinements, his first love and first accomplice was never far from his thoughts. Willie sutton was born in the squalid irish slums of brooklyn, in the fir. Find 1 listings related to sutton tours schedule in youngstown on. During three decades sutton became so good at breaking into banks, the fbi put him on its first. In his retelling, it was more than need or rage at society that drove sutton. When willie sutton walked from attica prison on christmas, 1969, the irish. In moehringers retelling, it was more than need or rage at society that drove sutton. Moehringers novel cracks vault on robber willie sutton. In all suttons crimes and confinements, his first love and first accomplice was never far.
During a lifelong criminal career, sutton stole more than two million dollars and cashed in on the urban legend that he robbed banks because, thats where. Moehringer brings willie sutton blazing back to life. Moehringer on the art of the steal interview magazine. While my experience growing up is different from yours, i understand how. In all suttons crimes and confinements, his first love and first accomplice was never far from. Moehringer wrote a memoir about growing up in a bar. And when sutton finally walked free a surprise pardon on christmas eve, 1969 he. Moehringer, thank you for writing your book the tender bar.
Moehringer weaves his tale around sutton, newly released from prison, traveling around new york city on christmas day 1969 with a captive audience pun intended of 2 newspaper men. Sutton saw only one way out and only one way to win the girl of his dreams. R moehringer book 45 editions published between 2012 and 2016 in 7 languages and held by 2,306 worldcat member libraries worldwide. Blending vast research with vivid imagination, pulitzer prize winner j. Moehringer has gifted us with a fine, fine, fine piece of storytelling. Moehringer does for bank robber willie sutton in this fascinating biographical novel of americas most successful bank robber newsday. Moehringer writes from the point of view of willie sutton, whom he calls the.
Journalist and author of the tender bar 2005 and sutton 2012. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that the. When willie sutton walked from attica prison on christmas, 1969, the irish, brooklynborn bank robber reemerged as a. How is willie sutton an atypical criminal, unlike those more commonly found in gangster movies and noir novels. This is a book that sucks you into the story almost right from the start. Moehringers bestselling audiobooks and newest titles. Moehringer does for bank robber willie sutton in this fascinating biographical. Blending vast research with vivid imagination, pulitzer prizewinner j.
Moehringers writing that makes you feel you arent stepping into a book so much as. So began the career of americas most successful bank robber. Moehringer inventories sutton s obsessive, if mainly doomed, breakouts. Moehringer s vision or wish for him as he states in the forward of the life and times of willie sutton as we follow him on the nickel tour of his life. Moehringer was born in new york city and was raised by a single mother in manhasset, new york and, later, in scottsdale, arizona. Second edition see here for the first edition mit press. Moehringer has said in interviews that he was motivated to write sutton after the 20082009 crash brought on by the housing bubble and reckless decisions by bankers. After reading this delightful, insightful, sad, funny, and at times disturbing book i now understand sutton was much more that just a bank robber. He was the winner of the pulitzer prize for feature writing in 2000, and a pulitzer finalist for feature writing in 1998 for his magazine piece resurrecting the champ, an article which was recently adapted for a film starring samuel l. Moehringer is a work of fiction but the protagonist, willie sutton actually existed.
Sutton was selected by amazon books editors as one of our best books of the month for september. Moehringer, author of sutton americas 1920s, bankrobbing robin hood in his first novel, j. The story opens on christmas eve, 1969, with suttons release from attica at age 68. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. Booklist starredwillie sutton was born in the irish slums of brooklyn in 1901, and he came of age at a time when banks were out of control. Moehringer tells suttons story in flashbacks, beginning on christmas eve, 1969, as a gubernatorial pardon by the banker nelson rockefeller releases sutton from attica, where he was serving. Moehringer born december 7, 1964 is an american novelist and journalist. In 2000 he won the pulitzer prize for newspaper feature writing. Moehringer s biographical novel sutton hyperion, a harrowing, haunting tale of the late criminals life.
110 1269 1264 686 276 843 1355 928 51 610 1256 1536 1039 1540 941 59 1132 179 740 908 955 316 1151 789 786 30 895 130 1422 1246 688 815 375 582 211 58 1492 1012 743