Description
Gangsters of the past never looked far enough into the future to do much planning. They stole sufficient money to get by for a short while and then robbed again. Sometimes they wanted to settle down, but most knew their crimes were going to lead to jail or death and their women knew it too. Life on the run was no picnic, but gangsters' molls chose it over a settled life in suburbia. This book is a history of gangsters' molls and mob queens, and it explains who these women were, where they came from and why they did the things they did.Covers the life stories of Bonnie Parker, Virginia Hill, the glamorous girlfriend of Bugsy Siegel who died mysteriously, Evelyn Frechette, who was charged with harbouring murderous mobster John Dillinger and many others.
Most of us know the story of Bonnie and Clyde, or at least we think we do. This book takes a peek at the lives of other depression era gangsters and the women who loved them. Often merely teenagers when first embarking on a life of crime, and often not living much past their 20s.
"Don't call us Molls, we hate that."
You have probably heard of "Baby Face Nelson"
but you may not know of Helen Gillis, the woman who loved him and who when asked why she would leave her children behind with relatives to go on the run with him said she knew he probably didn't have long to live and she "wanted to be with him just as long as I could"
These "Gangster Women" did not lead the glamorous lives that were often portrayed, while on the run from law enforcement, and knowing they were not likely to live happily ever after, or even live to see next week. This was an enlightening look into the lives of the women who were willing to risk everything for these men. It also contains several fascinating photos.
4 out of 5 stars from me.
I received a complimentary copy for review.
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