Sutton would study the layout of a bank, the number of employees, where the doors were located along with any other factors that needed to be known prior to robbing the bank. Sutton was selected by amazon books editors as one of our best books of the month for september. New book release on willie sutton sutton, authored by pulitzer prizewinning journalist j. Although he did threaten people at gunpoint, he never killed anyone during. Whether its investing in a more secure future or just learning financial fundamentals we help you win with money at sutton bank. Novel about robber willie sutton speaks to everyman. Ultimately, i think people are so hopeful for having some joy in life that is really hard to find. Feb 18, 2016 sutton was the last of the great bank robbers who relied on brains and guile, rather than strongarmstuff, to steal millions. Americas 1920s, bank robbing robin hood in his first novel, j. Even though willie sutton was a robber, he was not an extremely violent criminal. He is oft quoted as answering, because thats where the money is. For his talent at executing robberies in disguises, he gained two nicknames, willie the actor and slick willie. Moehringer does for bank robber willie sutton in this fascinating biographical novel of americas most successful bank robber newsday. Simple enough, but profound enough that in the medical industry its known as suttons law.
Unarguably americas most famous bank robber, willie never injured a soul, but took on almost a hundred banks and departed three of americas most escapeproof penitentiaries. Moehringer is a work of fiction but the protagonist, willie sutton actually existed. One nonfiction book about a bank robber frank abagnale and one fictional story about a reallife bank robber willie sutton. A biographical novel of the notorious bank robber willie sutton. R moehringers sutton, a historical novel based on the life of bank robber willie sutton, is a delightful, deadon imagining of the legendary bank robber s life. Moehringer uses a genius plot device of the characters reporter and photographer, who, having bartered an exclusive from willies lawyer, get the bank robber released into their hands. Find out more about his heists, multiple escapes from prison and original award winning documentary here. Dec 07, 2019 author of sutton discussing why he wanted to write a bank robber book. Schuster 1927 march 8, 1952 was a brooklyn clothing salesman and amateur detective known for his involvement in the capture of bank robber willie the actor sutton and for schusters subsequent murder by either the gambino crime family, friends of willie sutton, or any one of the many suspects police questioned about his death. Willie sutton, also called willie the actor, byname of william francis sutton, jr. I have author ed linns books on bill veeck and leo durocher in my library so when i saw he assisted in authoring willie suttons book i knew it would be a good.
Also in his postprison life, sutton coauthored a book with edward linn, where the money wasthe memoirs of a bank robber. He was a distant paternal cousin of literary agent. Raised in a tough irishamerican district in brooklyn, he was a veteran. Sutton, disguised as a mailman, entered the bank early in the morning. Sep 22, 2012 behind it all is bess, richly imagined as suttons great love and motivation, a beautiful rich girl from across the tracks whose heart the bank robber hopes he can steal enough wealth to buy. The daring escape from the eastern state penitentiary. This is an old book 1953 and it held my interest throughout. Moehringer begins with willie sutton being released from jail on christmas day, 1969. I never saw bessie again, he confided in one book, but i dreamed about.
While in prison he coauthored the book, i, willie sutton with quentin reynolds which was published in 1953. During three decades sutton became so good at breaking into banks, the fbi put him on its firstever most wanted list. The broadway books library of larceny luc sante, general editor for more than fifty years, willie sutton devoted his boundless energy and undoubted genius. The curiosity of a passerby caused the robbery attempt to be abandoned.
I have author ed linns books on bill veeck and leo durocher in my library so when i saw he assisted in authoring willie suttons book i knew it would be a good one. Americas 1920s, bankrobbing robin hood in his first novel, j. Bank robber willie sutton 19011980 did rather well at his profession. Mar 23, 2004 unarguably americas most famous bank robber, willie never injured a soul, but took on almost a hundred banks and departed three of americas most escapeproof penitentiaries. With the recent financial collapse and the big banks only getting bigger and less responsible a story about one of the most prolific bank robbers who is. R moehringers sutton, a historical novel based on the life of bank robber willie sutton, is a delightful, deadon imagining of the legendary bank robbers life. Willie sutton, the most wanted bank robber in the country, was arrested. Willie sutton was a noted bank robber who gained his apprenticeship under doc tate. Moehringer writes from the point of view of willie sutton, whom he calls the greatest american robber. In chapter one, i chuckled when the prison stated that prisoners arent allowed to have psychology books.
Sep 24, 2012 sutton was the most famous bank robber of his day. Sutton presents a glorious romance, a riveting heist novel, a financial history of the 20th century, a loving portrait of new york, and an empathetic portrait of the bank robber as a young man, all in one crisp, sad, and often hilarious novel. Willie sutton was a notorious american bank robber who was known for carrying out robberies in various disguises. This is an excellent story of willie sutton, the bank robber, of depressionera america, of crime and punishment and psychology. His record goes back to the 1920s and his first big score was the. The police said that when it came to planning and executing a robbery he had no equal. However, on january 15, 1934 sutton entered the same. Willie sutton was one of the most notorious bank robbers of the 20th century in new york. Willie sutton, born as william francis sutton, was an american bank robber notorious for his prolific criminal career which lasted for forty years. See more ideas about bank robber, new york and great depression.
Many people say that he was the greatest bank robber of all time. Where the money was is the biography of notorious robber, escape artist, and braggart, willie sutton. He said because thats where the money is, at least according to legend. We make it easy to boost your money iq with these resources. The famed bank robber willie sutton was asked why he robbed banks. Moehringer made a pretty smart choice when he picked nominal gentleman bank robber willie.
Willie sutton, celebrated american bank robber and prison escapee who earned his nickname the actor because of his talent for disguises, posing as guard, messenger, policeman, diplomat, or window cleaner to fool authorities. In sutton s 1953 book i, willie sutton, he refers to endner as bessie hurley, and states that eddie wilson joined in the burglary. Sutton saw only one way out and only one way to win the girl of his dreams. So began the career of americas most successful bank robber. Over three decades sutton became so good at breaking into banks, and such a master at breaking out of prisons, police called him one of the most dangerous men in new york, and the fbi put him on its firstever most wanted list. Moehringer author of the tender bar and coauthor of an. Nov, 20 the daring escape from the eastern state penitentiary. These are the hallmarks of all our most infamous bank robbers and their stories. Moehringers novel sutton brings to live the misadventures of infamous bank robber willie sutton. Moehringer historical fiction released september, 2012 386 pages bottom line. When willie sutton walked from attica prison on christmas, 1969, the irish, brooklynborn bank robber reemerged as a folk hero for american everymen fed up with a financial system that favored the rich. Paradoxical and elusive, the bank robber willie sutton would appear to be a readymade candidate for a smart, kaleidoscopic novel along the lines of t. June 30, 1901 november 2, 1980 was an american bank robber.
Willie sutton biography childhood, life achievements. Better known as willie the actor and slick willie, sutton was the most famous bank robber in america, as well as a notorious prison escape artist. He attended school through eighth grade, then left home to secure a job. It is a deeply affecting, highly entertaining book. This is the stuff of mythrascally and cautionary by turnsyet true in every searing, diverting, and brilliantly recalled detail. The day willie the actor sutton, prolific bank robber. He was a master of disguise who often impersonated a postal telegraph messenger, police officer or maintenance man.
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. He denies ever answering why he robbed banks by saying, because thats where the money is. Even if youve never heard of the bank robber willie sutton, youve probably heard his famous response to the question why do you rob banks, willie. Many perceive willie sutton as a reincarnated lovable robin hood. All in all, he stole millions of dollars, making him one of the most notorious bank robbers in american history. Sutton was a bank robber extraordinaire and he relates his experiences in his various heists. You cant make a living, and the idea of doing one small bank robbery or something, just trying to find your way in a life, finding your footing and ending up behind bars.
A novel based on the life of willie sutton, the bank robber. Sutton reconstructs the story of folkherobank robber willie sutton. For his talent at executing robberies in disguises, he gained two nicknames, willie the. Sutton became famous in the 20s and 30s for his brazen daytime robberies, which frequently involved elaborate ruses and costumes such as disguising himself as a postal worker or police officer, and gained further fame after escaping from three different prisons. Willie sutton is most famous for his life of crime, more than anything else. The memoirs of a bank robber by edward linn and willie sutton 2004, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. The memoirs of a bank robber library of larceny sutton, willie, linn, edward on. His heists and crimes are set against the backdrop of the great depression in the heart of a gritty 1930s new york. Born on june 30, 1901 in brooklyn, new york, willie sutton was the fourth of five children.
Willie sutton, the most wanted bank robber in the country, was arrested by two radio car cops and a third grade detective. The day willie the actor sutton, prolific bank robber, was. Willie sutton, born as william francis sutton, was a notorious bak robber famed for his prolific criminal career which lasted for forty years. 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. A bank robber book pairing as part of nonfiction november, hosts katie at doing dewey, kim at sophisticated dorkiness, becca at im lost in books, and leslie at regular rumination challenged us to pair a fiction with a nonfiction book.
It states that when diagnosing, one should first consider the obvious. Novel about robber willie sutton speaks to everyman book. Infamous for his flair for disguise, willie the actor and his crew shook down 100 banks between the 1920s and his final arrest in 1952. His multidecade crime spree extended from the 1910s to the 1950s, when he was caught and incarcerated for the last time. The targets in the first instance were banks and in the second, prisons. 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 memory lane. Author of sutton discussing why he wanted to write a bank robber book. Moehringer writes from the point of view of willie sutton, whom he calls. He denies ever answering why he robbed banks by saying, because thats where the. What hilary mantel did for thomas cromwell and paula mclain for hadley hemingway.
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