JIMMY BRESLIN

A lively portrait of the legendary New York crime reporter and columnist.

In this expansive, laudatory biography of the celebrated and often controversial journalist (1928-2017), Esposito, himself a veteran print and TV reporter as well as Breslin’s former newspaper colleague, meticulously chronicles his coverage of major events that shaped New York City. The book begins with Breslin’s reporting on the Son of Sam murders in 1977, including the exclusive letter he received from the killer, which exemplified his knack for being at the center of major stories. It also established his celebrity status: “With Son of Sam, Breslin knew he was ready to become even bigger, to become larger than life to an audience of millions.” Esposito explores Breslin's connections to underworld figures, showcasing his ability to navigate both the streets and the corridors of power. His infamous interview with Mafia boss Jimmy Burke (immortalized as Jimmy Conway in Goodfellas) and his coverage of the John Gotti trial demonstrate Breslin's unparalleled access to New York's criminal underbelly and highlight his distinctive style of reporting as storytelling, giving voice to a broad range of people he encountered in local bars and other urban venues. “Some would call this the heart of the New Journalism,” writes Esposito. “Breslin described it as the old journalism, saying that the only thing he and his colleague Tom Wolfe had discovered was that storytelling had been lost in journalism.” Esposito offers insights throughout into Breslin’s methods and the changing landscape of newspapers during his career. While his admiration for Breslin’s journalistic prowess and stature as a significant figure in American journalism is understandable, the book could have benefited from a more nuanced, less sycophantic perspective; it occasionally reads more like a eulogy than a balanced account.

Entertaining and detailed, if overly reverential.