The Westies: Inside New York's Irish Mob
English's Inside New York's Irish Mob takes the reader through the past of the Westies, one of the gangs founded in the 1960s. The name was assigned to a gang of Irish mobsters operating in Hell's Kitchen from the 1960s to the 1980s by the police and the public. The mob, led by Jimmy Coonan, terrorizes their tiny portion of New York City, leaving bodies of dead people in their wake. As such, it will be imperative to give an opinion about what the main theme of the book is (what the English are trying to say), provide a synopsis and analysis of the content of the book, and relate at least one incident covered in the book that stands out the most for me.
The main theme of the Book
The main themes in the book are organized crimes, murder, and betrayal on Manhattan's gritty West Side. The entire source manages to recreate the tale of violence of Westies. The gang started by Featherstone and Coonan, who are good friends to take reins of the Irish mob in New York. Jimmy who is charismatic sociopath becomes the leader when Featherstone goes to jail. One he got in power, Coonan caused significant grumbling in Irish gang when he became an ally with Gambino crime family. After Featherstone is released, he joins the group and together with other gang members create brutality trademark, butchering people or hurling them through the window. In other words, they kill anyone at any time of the day (English 86). Under Coonan leadership, West Side becomes a place where killing rains literally from the sky. However, Coonan arranges for Featherstone to be charged with a murder he did not commit. When he is convicted of this allegation, he believes that he was set up by one of his best partners and allies (English 93). Since he feels betrayed, he turns the favor and breaks the code of silence and testified against the gang in the court of law. His decision to turn and testify against them is rendered in intimate details in the book. Together with other members of his henchmen, Coonan is convicted of assorted criminal activities and are imprisoned. As such, to a large extent, the author manages to trace murder, betray and crimes as the major themes in the book.
Synopsis and Analysis of Content of the Book
According to the book, it is clear that Westies were feared even among the mob. The entire story begins with a partnership between two sadistic individuals, Mickey Featherstone and Jimmy Coonan. The author depicts Westies as the gang that emerges from the inferno of Hell's Kitchen. The group becomes one of the most notorious gangs in the entire history of organized crimes in the New York City, excelling in loan sharking, extortion, peddling drugs as well as alcohol (English 93). Among these crimes, they are mostly specialized in execution by dismemberment. It is imperative to indicate that although they do not number more than a dozen individuals who formed the gang, their reign lasts long enough until when their violent nature gets the best of them. In particular, this is because it precipitates their downfall.
As such, it is clear that the book focuses on Westies, one of the various gangs that become infamously known in the New York City. The book takes the audience to the late 1960s to the present and details important information about the major players, especially, Jimmy Coonan, the leader of the gang and Mickey Featherstone, the most feared person in the group (English 98). The intimate nature of the book in how it portrays emotions and lives of Mickey Featherstone as well as other characters coupled with the way it presents sociology and history of the neighborhood where the gang operated, bring out its primary idea clearly and concisely (English 93). It gives the reader a precise view of the events that occur between the 60s and 80s.
One Incident Covered in the Book that stands out the most for me
The best incident covered in the book that stands out the most for me is that which the Italian mafia group organizes to wipe out Westies. The mafia gang calls Mickey and Featherstone to have met with them, but this is a trap. They had a plan of killing Jimmy Coonan. The invitation came from a member of Gambino family. The Italians want to have a sit with them in one of the hotels and Jimmy is about to be taken murdered. However, he planted his niece inside the restaurant as eyes and ears. She is put there to find out what is going on with other gangs. Specifically, Jimmy had already noted the Italians' intentions. Featherstone and Coonan had planned to kill the Italians instead once they receive a call from Coonan's niece. Also, as I read the book, I was more fascinated by Featherstone because he is a local boy and Vietnam veteran. Further, I find him interesting because unlike other members who are focused on making money, he wants to make ends meet and keep his children and wife fed.
Work Cited
English, T. J. The Westies: Inside New York’s Irish Mob. Macmillan, 2006.
