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Monk Eastman: The Gangster Who Became a War Hero Hardcover – Deckle Edge, October 5, 2010

by Neil Hanson (Author)

4.3 21 ratings

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An intimate biography as well as an epic history, Monk Eastman vividly recounts the life and times of old New York’s most infamous gangster-cum-soldier as he made his way from the sooty streets and dingy saloons of the Lower East Side to the battlefields of the Western Front.

Born in 1873 to a respectable New York family, Monk was running wild in Manhattan’s rough Lower East Side by the age of eighteen. He found work as a bouncer—when the saloon owner first turned him down because he had two bouncers already, Monk beat them both up and was promptly hired in their place. He soon developed a loyal following of immigrant toughs, and by 1900, he was the most feared gang leader in lower Manhattan, protected by corrupt politicians and crooked cops, and commanding an army of two thousand pickpockets, thieves, prostitutes, and thugs.

But changing neighborhood demographics and shifting political fortunes colluded against Monk: after a pitched battle with Pinkerton detectives, he was sent to Sing Sing on a ten-year sentence, and his territory quickly slipped from his grasp. In 1917, no longer safe from the law—or from rival gangs—Monk joined the New York National Guard. As a gangster, he’d been the equivalent of a general; as an enlisted man, Monk was just another private.

After several months of combat training, Monk’s division of Brooklyn recruits was thrown headlong into the bitter trench warfare in Europe. His experience in gangland combat served him well: he was repeatedly cited by his superiors for his bravery and he received a hero’s welcome back in New York and an offical pardon from the governor. But Monk’s gangland past was not so easily erased and caught up with him in the end.

In Neil Hanson’s able hands, Monk’s unique and compelling story becomes an emblem of a time of upheaval—for New York and for the nation.

From Booklist

Monk Eastman was born around 1873, apparently in Manhattan. Unlike most of his fellow thugs, he was raised in a middle-class family; but by the time he was six, he had begun his criminal career with a series of petty crimes, quickly ascending to more serious and violent crime, and by 20 heading a feared street gang. He operated with impunity, protected by cops on the take and Tammany Hall. Hanson describes Eastman’s rise in tough, unromantic terms while effectively placing him in the context of the hardscrabble Lower East Side. Monk was physically unattractive and his penchant for violence was so extreme that his political cover deserted him. After a prison stretch in Sing Sing and more petty crime, he enlisted in the army in 1917, when he was 43, and served honorably in combat in France. But, as Hanson illustrates, this was no case of personal redemption; upon discharge, Monk returned to his old habits and haunts, and his life ended violently and ignominiously. A well-done account. --Jay Freeman

About the Author

Neil Hanson’s other books include The Confident Hope of a Miracle and Unknown Soldiers. He lives in the Yorkshire Dales in England.

Print length

416 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Knopf
Publication date

October 5, 2010
Dimensions

6.5 x 1.5 x 9.5 inches
ISBN-10

0307266559
ISBN-13

978-0307266552
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Knopf; First Edition (October 5, 2010)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0307266559
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0307266552
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.65 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1.5 x 9.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,915,458 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #5,142 in Crime & Criminal Biographies
- #13,950 in Military Leader Biographies

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4.3 21 ratings

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George Hagenauer

A good bio of this critical and early gangster

Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2022

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A major problem with writing this type of book is that criminals coming from a low income background and who died decades ago rarely leave a trail of detailed information about their lives. Taking what exists and turning it into a readable and interesting book is really difficult and Hansen succeeds.

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Bill Emblom

The Two Lives of Monk Eastman

Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2010

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This book is divided into three parts. Part One relates Eastman's life as a roughneck gangster on New York's Lower East Side, and his subsequent imprisonment in both Sing Sing and Clinton Prison in New York. Part Two covers Monk's participation in France during World War I. Part Three involves Eastman's return to New York City following World War I.

A crime infested environment on New York's Lower East Side entrapped Eastman into a life of crime as it did for several others. Immigrants to New York were sad to see their children turn to a life of crime as a way of life. This section of the book really makes a mockery of the poem on the Statue of Liberty "Give me your tired and poor yearning to be free." The "tired and poor" were thrown into a garbage dump on the Lower East Side of New York making them wonder why they ever came to this country.

Despite not having received any medals for his bravery during World War I Monk Eastman distinguished himself in the eyes of his peers. He was several years older than the average soldier, and his "combat" in New York in the slums of New York actually worked to his benefit in adjusting to life in the army. A fellow doughboy was about to shoot a German soldier approximately fifteen years old when Eastman told him to take the boy as a prisoner of war instead.

With the conclusion of the Great War Eastman returned to New York just as Prohibition was about to take place. Following a drinking party Eastman was shot and killed under mysterious circumstances which still contains a number of unanswered questions.

I especially liked what the Reverend James Lockwood of a Methodist Church said at Eastman's funeral. In part he said, "It has been said there is so much bad in the best of us, so much good in the worst of us, that it does not become any of us to think harshly of the rest of us. That is one way of saying, "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone."

9 people found this helpful

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Rick Warner

It's About Time...

Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2010

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It's about time someone wrote a bio of early 20th century gangster Monk Eastman. Hanson has exhaustively turned over every stone and examined every book, document and newspaper that has anything to say about one of the most notorious figures in New York history. This is especially impressive when one considers that Hanson lives in England.

One of the things I looked for was his assessment of Eastman's ancestry. Until recently it was pretty much universally accepted that Eastman was a Jew born as Edward Ostermann. As Hanson explains, this is one of those myths that found its way into gangster lore. Hanson also managed to dig up a later photo of Eastman that takes us beyond the mug shot on the cover of his book, a photo that has been the only example of Eastman most people have seen. Beyond these findings, the book is a good read that is well organized, provides all the sources and includes an index and bibliography. Since Hanson covered all the bases there will be no book to surpass this one. This will be the definite work on Eastman, period.

8 people found this helpful

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Richard Manly

The tough guy who died clean.

Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2021

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Monk Eastman transforms himself in this highly readable account from a brutal, clever thug to a real, live World War I combat hero. His journey from fighting for money to fighting for his country is clear, rational and dramatic. Death is never far from Monk Eastman and there are some enemies he could run from but couldn't hide from. Give it a shot.

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Michael

A Good Read not as expected

Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2022

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Most of this book is written about the historical context of the times in which Monk lived. Monk is mentioned throughout the book along with his exploits but be prepared to read an historical text. While that text is interesting sometimes it gets a little redundant in its description occasionally albeit fascinating. I recommend this book to anyone interested in this period.

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Stallone

If you like gangs of New York you'll love this book

Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2016

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This is one of the best works on one of the most interesting thugs of the early part of the 20th century if you are you gangster buff you will love this book

One person found this helpful

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Sarah Joyce c/o GK Framing

Crooks

Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2018

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i enjoyed the book, it was entertaining

Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2015

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Monk Eastman was the classic example of the street tough during the early years of the 20 the century. With his squat built, undersized derby and pockmarked kisser, Monk ruled the roost on the Lower Side East of New York City. The Eastman Gang, along with the Five Pointers, the Hudson Dusters and the Gophers, was a gang of swaggering galoots who fought for dominance of the underworld in the days before Prohibition, Tommy guns and speakeasies.

One person found this helpful

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robert

Monk Eastman

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 26, 2015

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This is a great book, not just about Monk Eastman, but also about Old New York. It also gives you a good insight into who Monk Eastman was and debunks a lot of the myths behind his origin. If you are a fan of this genre, then this is a great book to read.

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Monk Eastman: The Gangster Who Became a War Hero Hardcover – Deckle Edge, October 5, 2010

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