Scarface

A brutal, unflinching portrait of ambition, violence, and power, Scarface by Armitage Trail is a cornerstone of American crime literature and the defining novel of the classic gangster era. Set in the smoke-filled backrooms and bloodstained streets of 1920s Chicago, this landmark work follows the rise and fall of Tony "Scarface" Guarino, a cold, brilliant figure determined to claw his way to the top of a criminal empire built on fear, bootlegging, and corruption. As Prohibition fuels the growth of organized crime, rival gangs battle for territory, political favors are bought and sold, and the line between law and lawlessness disappears. Tony's ascent is relentless-driven by ego, strategy, and the ruthless calculus of survival-until violence, betrayal, and paranoia close in with explosive consequence. Trail's prose is urgent and cinematic, combining noir realism with the mythic scale of a rise-and-fall gangster saga. A precursor to modern crime fiction, Scarface exposes the machinery of power in Prohibition-era America, revealing how brutality and charisma can shape a legend-and destroy the person behind it. Gritty, fast-paced, and unsentimental, the novel stands alongside the greatest works of the genre and remains essential for readers drawn to:classic gangster novels Prohibition-era crime fiction 1920s Chicago underworld stories American cultural and film history early twentieth century crime narratives Now recognized as the novel that inspired the iconic films, Scarface endures as a vivid snapshot of a violent age and a chilling examination of how criminal empires rise-and why they fall. A must-read for libraries, collectors, and anyone fascinated by the origins of the American gangster myth.