Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City

In the fall of 2010, HBO released yet another in a long string of acclaimed TV dramas, this one entitled "Boardwalk Empire". The series features Steve Buscemi as corrupt Atlantic City treasurer Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, a prohibition-era boss who controlled his city with an iron grip. What many don't realize, though, is that the series is based on the real-life exploits of Enoch "Nucky" Johnson, as detailed in the book Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City.

Even if you've never set foot on the Boardwalk or seen an episode of the above mentioned series, Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City makes for a fascinating read. Part of that is because of the fascinating history behind the emergence of Atlantic City as a modern vacation mecca and gambling emporium. Chock full of fascinating characters, intrigue, and politics, the story of Atlantic City will keep readers glued to its pages from the very first to the very last.

Author Johnson traces the city's origins back to the mid-19th century, when it was little more than a wooded island named Absecon inhabited mostly by swarms of flies and mosquitoes. But for the vision of one Dr. Jonathon Pitney, it might have remained so. Pitney, however, saw the potential of the Island as a health spa and resort for the wealthy. To foster same, he lobbied repeatedly with New Jersey's legislature to have a railroad constructed from Philadelphia to bring guests to the island. Finally, he got what he wanted, and Atlantic City was born.

Atlantic City, however, would not attain fame as a health resort; instead, it rose to infamous glory as a den of iniquity and capitol of vice where gambling, prostitution, and alcohol were always available to those that could pay for them. And pay for those vices they did, swarming in from Philadelphia and later New York for the right to do so.

Through notorious barons the likes of Louis "The Admiral" Kuehnle and Nucky Johnson, Atlantic City became not only a place where vices were readily (and openly) available, it also emerged as one of the most notorious centers of cooperation between organized criminal activities and a seemingly untouchable political machine. As a result, the heart of Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City is the story of Nucky Johnson.

Johnson controlled his city like few others in American history. His political influence extended well beyond the confines of Atlantic City to the state of New Jersey as a whole, and his control was so complete that for over two decades he was untouchable despite the prevalence of open gambling and, during Prohibition, free flow of alcohol in Atlantic City.

Author Johnson makes Nucky his focus, and rightly so, since he was the driving force in molding Atlantic City into what it was today. He's here to tell us the city's whole story, though, and does so entertainingly and informatively, right on through the eventual legalization of gambling (and the entry of Donald Trump) that saved the city from irrelevance.

The surroundings and landmarks of the city, most notably the famous Boardwalk, are fixtures of the book as well, as we see their evolution through time. Indeed, the latter almost becomes a character in and of itself, as we see how it changes over the years as businesses and hotels are built and demolished along its borders.

Through its pages, Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City becomes much more than a simple history of Atlantic City. Indeed, it's a fascinating history of America herself as we see this city, vastly different yet in many ways not so different from many other American towns and cities, evolve and grow as the nation emerges on the global stage.

At a mere 312 pages, Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City won't demand an excess amount of your time. Indeed, perhaps one flaw is that the book is not longer. But the fascinating characters, interesting places, and exotic history recounted here will keep you flying through it so furiously that you'll polish it off in no time anyway. A fascinating read that will have you looking at Atlantic City in a whole new light.