Amazon.com Book Description (ISBN 0881842354, Paperback)

1929. The world's first gangster novel. Little Caesar follows the rise and fall of Rico in the crime world as he flees to Chicago and ultimately to his violent end. The book begins: Sam Vettori sat staring down into Halsted Street. He was a big man, fat as a hog, with a dark oily complexion, kinky black hair and a fat aquiline face. In repose he had an air of lethargic good-nature, due entirely to his bulk; for in reality he was sullen, bad-tempered and cunning. From time to time he dragged out a huge gold watch and looked at it with raised eyebrows and pursed lips.