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Dillinger, the Hidden Truth: A Tribute to Gangsters and G-Men of the Great Depression Era

Dillinger, the Hidden Truth: A Tribute to Gangsters and G-Men of the Great Depression Era

List Price: $36.99
Your Price: $36.99
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Good but flawed
Review: Although this book has a lot of interesting information in it that varies from and/or adds to other books on the subject, to me it reeks of bias in favor of the subject, despite what the author says (maybe because he's related to Dillinger's wife!). And you would think that after spending some 30 years on it, like the author says, that the grammar and spelling would be better - indeed, the grammatical and spelling errors in here are horrendous, to the point of being distracting. How about a proofreader? [...] Conspiracy theorists will love this, however. It is interesting - I'm just not sure if I believe a lot of it though.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: BUY THIS BOOK! Read what Top Notch Historians are saying!
Review: As a historian myself, I strongly recommend this book. I've read it twice now and still find it fascinating! You can't always believe reviews of those who comdemn books about outlaws of the past who probably burn any books written about outlaws. However you can believe Qualified Authors and Historians who would only put their names on books they believe in. I agree with the responses written by the people who know best. The ones who hasve done the actual research and written about these events. Please read what these authorities of American history have written about Tony Stewart and his amazing book Dillinger, The Hidden Truth. Below is a list of recommendations taken off the cover of Dillinger, The Hidden Truth.

"Tony Stewart's book 'Dillinger, The Hidden Truth' captures that shoot-em-up era to a 'T.' With the ever-growing library dealing with the '20s and '30s' gangster era, Stewart's book is another tasty dish on that splashy wine and blood splattered dinner table." (Tom Hollatz - Gangster Holidays--the Lore and Legend of the Bad Guys).
Tony Stewart's dedicated fascination with John Dillinger and other infamous gangsters from the 1920s and 1930s is finally revealed in "Dillinger, The Hidden Truth." (Robert Livesey - author of On the Rock).
Tony Stewart uncovers the "Hidden Truth" behind the Dillinger legend in this blazing ride through America's golden age of bank robbers. (Jim Adams - City Editor of the New Hampshire Sunday News).
When it comes to John Dillinger, author Tony Stewart strives to -tell it like it is! "Dillinger - The Hidden Truth," presents this dapper 1930's outlaw, as you've never really known him. This is a must read book! (Frank R. Ballinger - Bonnie & Clyde's Hideout Website).
"Finally we have a factual and engaging story of DillingerĂ‚Â¹s life, refreshingly devoid of the fantasy, bias and sentimentality of previous accounts." (Alston Purvis - Boston University).
If you read only one book this year, make it " Dillinger, The Hidden Truth." Tony Stewart presents an exciting new look at the bank robber's career and those who attempted, by any means, to "Get Dillinger." (Bill Hanson - author of "Closely Guarded Secrets" and "Mystery Florida.")
Read for the first time, Tony Stewart's well-researched book that uncovers the hidden truth in the annuals of the Gangster era that the FBI and J.Edgar Hoover didn't want the public too know. (Jeffrey Maycroft; Historical Consultant, Public Enemies Almanac).
J. Edgar Hoover ignored the Mafia to ruthlessly exterminate easier targets--celebrity bandits like Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd, and Bonnie and Clyde--check out Tony Stewart's Dillinger, the Hidden Truth. Moves with the fast pace of a stolen Ford V8 to the staccato bark of a Tommy gun! (Rick Mattix - co-author, Public Enemies, America's Criminal Past, 1919-1940 and Thompson, the American Legend: The First Submachine Gun).
In this new work John Dillinger is researched to the insight never before researched. I have a lot of respect for anyone who takes the time, patience, and discipline to research and then write a book on any subject, let alone a subject as complicated as the life of John Dillinger. This new insight and information that Mr. Stewart has written is a refreshing and new look at the famous John Dillinger. This is recommended reading, before the lights go out on the final chapter of John Dillinger. This is the final chapter.(Gordon Herigstad -author of Colt Thompson Serial Numbers).
I applaud Mr. Stewart and HIGHLY RECOMMEND his new book Dillinger, The Hidden Truth. It is 515 pages of of fascinating updated events that were build on a foundation of facts. I love this book and added it to my collection. Thank you

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: OUTSTANDING BOOK!
Review: Being the son of this so called "Author," I have to say that I am utterly ashamed. My Dad's "hard work" he put into this poorly written book lack perfection on So many levels. I have to wake up to hearing his annoying childish bragging of "I wrote a book!" EVERY day of my life. I tell him, "No, you didn't Write a Book. You just terribly pushed together a lot of misspelled and repeated information." If you think the way he tries to explain everything in the book is bad, you should try hearing him just say a full sentence, with it actually making Some sense. I warn all who even think about wasting your money on this piece of garbage, Please save your money. Then again, it's always good to have a copy around if you're running low on toilet paper. That's all I have to say.

- Keith

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: zero stars
Review: I don't think the other reviewers who gave this book 5 stars have even read this book. Maybe they were just confused, and thought they were reviewing a good book. More than likely they are just friends and family, but all the positive reviews and a desire to learn more about the charismatic Dillinger led me to purchase this book.

Oh, the humanity!

Simply put, this book is not good, unless of course you want to have the date of Dillingers' death repeated ad nauseum and a bitter hatred of J. Edgar Hoover shoved in your face. I'm just talking about the first chapter here, folks. There are alot of reasons to dislike this book, although some of the pictures used are unique.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The MOST accurate of information of all the Dillinger books
Review: I have a copy of this book as I am a Dillinger collector. I would like to say that I love this book. It seems to me that the author, being related to Dillinger, has really done his research and I feel that it is probably the most accurate book on the market about Johnnie. I would recommend that anyone who is a Dillinger fan or a student needing really accurate and in depth information, buy the book. I also like the ease of reading it..the author makes it understanable and very interesting. I give it 5 stars!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: WARNING.....Is this a good read or not?
Review: I have thought about buying this book for several months, as it seems to be getting some really good reviews.... However, about 1/2 the reviews trash the book - One being (or claimed to be) the authors son. I think before you purchase this book, we need to request that several portions of this book be uploaded to read here on Amazon, and get a feel of the book for ourselve. As it stands now, I have no idea if the book is a classic or a stinker.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Dillinger, The Hidden Truth
Review: I purchased a copy of Tony Stewart's new book Dillinger, The Hidden Truth and can't put it down! The book has tons of new facts and even has a complete reference section on outlaws and lawmen of the nineteen twenties and thirties. Truly Fasinating! As a historian on American history for years, I find the book to be very accurate and detailed on events, places, dates and people. Anything and everything you want to know about the criminals of this era is all here. The book gets into the early criminal careers of outlaws like John Dillinger, Harry Pierpont, Charley Makley, Russell Clark, Baby Face Nelson, Pretty Boy Floyd, Bonnie and Clyde, Karpis/Barker gang and several others. This is truly a historical book. I give Mr. Stewart's book 5 Stars for accuracy and detail. The book is listed number 5 on the Best Sellers list ... and I believe will soon reach number one! Buy a copy, and learn the truth behind all the cover-ups hidden for years.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A NUMBER ONE BOOK! FIVE STARS!
Review: In eight pages of acknowledgements at the end of this book, Mr. Stewart fails to thank his editor. There are many thanks given to old friends, researchers, family, etc., but he must have forgotten his editor (or he must have forgotten to have one). I realize it isn't chic these days to spell or punctuate correctly, but as I read this mess, I couldn't help but feel duped. Mr. Stewart has a great deal of difficulty writing in complete sentences and he obviously never learned the old elementary school rule about commas: when it doubt, leave it out. Capitalization and the use of the apostrophe also give Mr. Stewart a great deal of difficulty. Page 40 is nearly incoherent, with such gems as, "American's considered the banks as the bad guys; after all they were the ones stealing from the people when the banks failed in 1933." and "By 1933, the Bureau's moral increased to 425 agents." At least he got the apostrophe correct in the last sentence, but it's difficult to tell what he means in either of them.
While Stewart claims to have done a great deal of research in order to write this book, perhaps he should have done the research and allowed someone with a better knowledge of the English language and the writing process do the writing. Also, Stewart constantly interjects his personal opinions, another example of bad writing and an annoyance that makes his "facts" suspect. But I could probably live with that if it were not for sentences such as, "Charley Arthur Floyd was Well-Known as Pretty Boy Floyd, the Robin Hood of Cookson Hills, and the Oklahoma bank robber. He was shot and killed by federal agents on October 22, 1934, Near East Liverpool, Ohio." While I believe Mr. Floyd's given name was "Charles," and that Tony Stewart probably didn't know him well enough to call him "Charlie," that doesn't bother me half as much as the strange capitalization and surplus commas.
I truly regret spending $24.56 on this book. If there are any "hidden truths" in these pages, it's difficult to tell what they are because the book is so poorly written.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: A disaster
Review: This book is a disgrace.

It is clear in the first few pages that it is not an accurate account of John Dillinger, his cohorts or the 1930s. When I purchased this book, I thought I was buying a historical analysis of the "Dillinger Days," where the author would present the facts and allow me to draw my own conclusions. Instead, what I got was a one-sided view of conspiracy theories.

Even worse, the book is riddled with typos (i.e. the caption under the first picture of Dillinger), the language is simplistic (borderline insulting) and in the first three chaprters alone I counted more than 15 grammatical errors. What's more, the author purports to be a student of history, but not one footnote appears in the text after a supposed fact; leaving much of what's read open to a heavy and well-deserved dose skepticism.

From page 1, the author proudly demonstrates a strong bias against the government which leads to - not an open discussion of facts - but to a long-winded tale of conspiracy theories which boggle the mind. Everything from orgies involving the Kennedys and Marilyn Monroe; to claims that Hoover deliberatly shirked his responsibilities as FBI Director in exchange for tips on winning horse races.

The book was not hailed by any major periodicle or book club, but not surprisngly, received much acclaim from fellow conspiracy theorists and anti-government types. Go figure.

Anyone with an interest in history will be most dissapointed with this book. Be very skeptical of any reader who has given this book a "5 Star" rating.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Dillinger I Never Knew About
Review: This great book kept me glued to the pages. I learned more about John Dillinger from this book than any other I have read. I particularly enjoyed the interview with Dillinger's wife. To hear from someone who knew Dillinger best during the particular time they were together was like a breath of fresh air compared to the usual research methods used in writing books. Anyone who is a fan of the gangster era of the 1930s will love this book.


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