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arytaco's review against another edition
4.0
A vivid gangster novel from W.R. Burnett, “Little Caesar” chronicles the rise and fall of Chicago Gangster Rico Bandello and his high-flying crime syndicate. Low-life men attempt to make for themselves a wealthy lifestyle, but the path to such a life lies behind murder, theft and deceit. Little Italy is a breeding ground for said men, while the authorities loom in the hopes of gaining a single confession. Burnett may fill his novel with gangster slang and other informalities, but “Little Caesar” concludes with the notion that even criminals believe that there are no atheists when one’s life comes to an abrupt end.
lgpiper's review against another edition
2.0
The classic gangster book, which became a famous movie starring Edward G. Robinson. This wasn't a particularly well-written book, from a literary point of view, and it seems rather cliched today, but I'm guessing it was more-or-less the genesis of the gangster cliches.
Basically, it's the story of a tough guy who worked his way up in the Chicago gangster pantheon. Then he was identified and became a fugitive, eventually ending back in Toledo, where he'd begun his life of crime. He finds it horrible not to be a big cheese, and eventually becomes one in Toledo again, but at the cost of identifying himself. Thus, he is soon faced with the quandary of whether to be taken dead or alive.
I dunno. Other than for historical reasons, I don't see much point in taking up this book. It was ok, and short, but didn't seem imaginative.
Basically, it's the story of a tough guy who worked his way up in the Chicago gangster pantheon. Then he was identified and became a fugitive, eventually ending back in Toledo, where he'd begun his life of crime. He finds it horrible not to be a big cheese, and eventually becomes one in Toledo again, but at the cost of identifying himself. Thus, he is soon faced with the quandary of whether to be taken dead or alive.
I dunno. Other than for historical reasons, I don't see much point in taking up this book. It was ok, and short, but didn't seem imaginative.
anti_formalist12's review against another edition
2.0
Feels weird to rate a classic so low, but considering that this came out at almost the same time as Red Harvest, Little Caesar really does not hold up.
martamarne_'s review against another edition
5.0
Una obra maestra del hard-boiled: la primera novela negra narrada desde el punto de vista del delincuente. Con una clara inspiración en la vida y obra de Al Capone, narra los bajos fondos de Chicago y del mundo de la mafia.
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