In a message dated 05/06/01 12:16:10 GMT Daylight Time,
Pengarang@aol.com writes:
<<
Seeing someone recommend Low Life, I had to write to
say that the book is for
the most part a reworking (and rip-off) of a much
better book published in
1928 by Herbert Asbury: Gangs of New York. Luc Sante
owes his career to the
fact that books go out of print, and then are largely
forgotten, in my
opinion. I would also recommend Asbury's other books:
The Barbary Coast
(SF's
underworld), The French Quarter (New Orleans), Gem of
the Prairie (Chicago),
and Sucker's Progress (History of Gambling in US). Very
well-researched, very
whimsical, entertaining reads.
Nathaniel Lachenmeyer
-- >> I have not read Asbury's works and I think
that it is unlikely that I will get the chance anytime soon,
if anyone knows of a reissue I would love to know the
details, I think it is a bit unfair to criticise Sante
for
"rewriting" someone elses work. He fully acknowledges his
debt to Asbury and, as far as I can tell, correctly
attributes his quotation. It is only throw Sante that I heard
of Asbury. I also think that Sante has his own voice, one
which I found sympathetic, and has also used other source
material which he also acknowledges. The other book I
reccomended as background HB reading "The Big Con" he also
used, and in his note on sources says "someone should reissue
(his) extraordinary The Big Con" - and low and behold they
have, with Sante providing the introduction, I now have a
copy and concur with his high opinion of it, it's
fascinating. Asbury is obviously a major source on this
period and subject matter and so will be a first port of
call, does that mean that every history of Norman england is
a reworking and a rip-off of the Domesday Book? I dunno, like
I say not seen Asbury - if they are reprinted I imagine that
it will be partly down to Sante's work. I still recommend it
and still say it's fantastic. Scorsese film sounds
interesting hope it goes well! Regards Colin
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