Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. Moehringer, author of sutton americas 1920s, bankrobbing robin hood in his first novel, j. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that the. In moehringers retelling, it was more than poverty or rage at society that drove sutton. Moehringer born december 7, 1964 is an american novelist and journalist. Tansley united church book club book discussion questions. In all suttons crimes and confinements, his first love and first accomplice was never far. Moehringer is a work of fiction but the protagonist, willie sutton actually existed.
How is willie sutton an atypical criminal, unlike those more commonly found in gangster movies and noir novels. Discover more authors youll love listening to on audible. Sutton saw only one way out and only one way to win the girl of his dreams. Moehringers bestselling audiobooks and newest titles. Willie sutton was born in the squalid irish slums of brooklyn, in the fir. 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 was born in new york city and was raised by a single mother in manhasset, new york and, later, in scottsdale, arizona. During three decades sutton became so good at breaking into banks, the fbi put him on its first.
Moehringer writes from the point of view of willie sutton, whom he calls the. Willie sutton was born in the squalid irish slums of brooklyn, in the first year of the twentieth century, and came of age at a time when banks were out of control over three decades, from prohibition through the great depression, from the age of al capone until the reign of murder inc. Moehringers novel cracks vault on robber willie sutton. Second edition see here for the first edition mit press. Blending vast research with vivid imagination, pulitzer prizewinner j. Moehringer historical fiction released september, 2012 386 pages bottom line. Moehringer has gifted us with a fine, fine, fine piece of storytelling. 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. In my mind, it deserves to win a big literary prize, be it a pulitzer, national book award, booker, or whatever. 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. 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. While my experience growing up is different from yours, i understand how. 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 at elliott bay book company in seattle, wa. Moehringer inventories sutton s obsessive, if mainly doomed, breakouts. 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. After reading this delightful, insightful, sad, funny, and at times disturbing book i now understand sutton was much more that just a bank robber. In moehringers retelling, it was more than need or rage at society that drove sutton. Sutton, a historical novel based on extensive research, is a comic, moving, gritty imagining of that mysterious christmas, and the remarkable life that preceeded it, a life defined by thrills. 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. 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 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. Moehringer is a former nieman fellow at harvard university. Willie sutton, one of the most famous bank robbers of his time, was almost forgotten until j. In his retelling, it was more than need or rage at society that drove sutton.
Moehringer wrote a memoir about growing up in a bar. Moehringer on the art of the steal interview magazine. 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. Slowly, surely, one will lead you to another, which will lead you to the best. 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. Born in 1901 in the irish slums of brooklyn, sutton grew up in an age when banks were out of control with greed. In all of suttons crimes and confinements, his first love and first accomplice was never far from his thoughts. Moehringer does for bank robber willie sutton in this fascinating biographical novel of americas most successful bank robber newsday. Journalist and author of the tender bar 2005 and sutton 2012. Moehringers writing that makes you feel you arent stepping into a book so much as.
When willie sutton walked from attica prison on christmas, 1969, the irish. When willie sutton walked from attica prison on christmas, 1969, the irish, brooklynborn bank robber reemerged as a. So began the career of americas most successful bank robber. Discover book depositorys huge selection of j r moehringer books online. In 2000 he won the pulitzer prize for newspaper feature writing. This is a book that sucks you into the story almost right from the start. 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. Find 1 listings related to sutton tours schedule in youngstown on. 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. Moehringer does for bank robber willie sutton in this fascinating biographical. Moehringer s biographical novel sutton hyperion, a harrowing, haunting tale of the late criminals life. Blending vast research with vivid imagination, pulitzer prize winner j. A biographical novel of the notorious bank robber willie sutton.
Moehringer brings willie sutton blazing back to life. He graduated from saguaro high school in scottsdale in 1982. 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. Sutton was selected by amazon books editors as one of our best books of the month for september.
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