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Folsom, Tom : The Mad Ones: Crazy Joe Gallo And The Revolution At The Edge Of The Underworld

Weinstein Books, New York City, NY, 2008

ISBN 1602860815

First Edition / First Printing. As New in As New Dust Jacket. 245 pages. Book-length account on subject. One of the most remarkable social and cultural histories of our time. The First Hardcover Edition. Precedes and should not be confused with all other subsequent editions. Published in a small and limited first print run as a hardcover original only. Presents Tom Folsom's "The Mad Ones: Crazy Joe Gallo And The Revolution At The Edge of The Underworld". The amazing story of the first (and thus far, only) Mafioso poet/artist. Permanently consigned to the underground, Gallo decided to go above ground, and eventually paid the price for his audacity and ambition. The Mafia wants, and respects, only wealth and power. Joey, remarkably, wanted fame and glory (while never quite abandoning his criminal roots and obligations), the prototypically self-made American who wanted and needed it both ways. As such, his story is social and cultural history of the first rank: THE story of modern America, Immigrant America, the American Dream, and the American Nightmare. "Bob Dylan immortalized Joey Gallo in a lengthy ballad, romanticizing him and his cohorts. Contemporary tabloids enthusiastically agreed. Not exactly out to counter Gallo's lovable thug persona, Folsom chronicles Gallo in highly readable, lyrical fashion. Joey frequented cultural hot spots like The Village, rubbing elbows with boulevardiers, pop stars, and poets. He wrote poetry and sought the media limelight with unheard-of fervor for a working mobster. That didn't sit well with other gangsters in general and senior members of the Profaci (later Colombo) Mob family in particular. His self-promotion worked, however, and his iconic status was assured when, like Dutch Schultz before him, he was gunned down in mid-bite at his favorite restaurant. During his raucous career, he warred with Godfather Joseph Profaci, and may have had a hand in the assassination of Profaci's successor, Joe Colombo. A fitting tribute" (Mike Tribby). An absolute "must-have" title for Tom Folsom and Joe Gallo collectors. This copy is very boldly and beautifully signed in black pen-marker on the title page by Tom Folsom. It is signed directly on the page itself, not on a tipped-in page. This is one of few such signed copies of the First Hardcover Edition/First Printing still available online and is in especially fine condition: Clean, crisp, and bright, a pristine beauty. Please note: Copies available online have serious flaws, are subsequent printings, or are remainder-marked. This is surely an accessible and lovely alternative. A scarce signed copy thus. Lavishly illustrated with archival materials and vintage photographs. One of the most brilliant American journalist-writers of our time. A fine copy. . ISBN 1602860815.

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