Public Enemies

Written by Bryan Burrough and now made into a major film starring Johnny Depp, this piece of non-fiction would appeal to all those who love a bit of modern history. 

In 1933 a crime wave blazed across America. Bank robbers, gunslingers, cash-snatchers and murderers dash through the US, becoming legends in the process. Among these were the homicidal Baby Face Nelson, outlaws Bonnie and Clyde, the cranky hillbilly Ma Barker, and the suave gentleman criminal John Dillinger. This book tells the stories of all these infamous criminals and more as well as their nemesis J. Edgar Hoover, the War on Crime, and various law enforcers and FBI agents who made names for themselves by catching and bringing the criminals to justice. 

I think the only real reason I bought this book was because it was about a subject that I find fascinating and it had Johnny Depp on the cover, looking very suave and gentlemanly as John Dillinger. 

I usually would prefer the piece of fiction and fantasy, but this book opened my eyes to how interesting history can be. Admittedly the book can get a little dry in some areas, as any non-fiction historical recount can get, but on the whole it was an enthralling and wonderfully detailed piece of work. 

The subject matter is instantly intriguing and the way the book is structured is brilliant as it uses information gained from secret files and police documents as well as eyewitness accounts, making the book more enthralling and easier to believe because it makes you read it like an interesting news article and not some exaggerated or dramatised novel that is based on true events. 

There is no real issue of bias, the way the book is written causes the reader to rally both for and against both the good guys and the bad guys. The stories also get quite personal and it’s really nice to read about how some of these homicidal criminals and robbers had lighter sides. It’s quite romantic as you read about how they meet and treat their girlfriends and partners as well as their own families. It almost heightens the legends of these men and women as you come to realise that they were just like you and I. All these normal people became infamous criminals because they had fallen on hard times and acted in desperation. This book really simplifies the method of the criminal mind. 

Both an educational and enthralling read, Public Enemies is a wonderful work of non-fiction, one that I would be happy to read again.