History of Organized Crime Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

History of Organized Crime - Essay Example While the author follows this purpose with single-minded intent, her level of success varies. Regardless of the full extent of authenticity, the book provides a number of interesting anecdotes and a good general overview of the climate that allowed the mob to flourish. If not complete gospel, it at least provides one with interesting insights into the life of an infamous figure in history. Edmond’s biography about Virginia Hill attempts to follow Hill’s life from beginning to end. It thus attempts to not only offer a connection between her later life and the difficult home life se had as a young child (while also trying to create a semi-sympathetic character). August 26, 1916, one Onie Virginia Hill, the seventh of ten children, is born to W.M. â€Å"Mack† Hill in Lipscomb, Alabama. Mack is essentially a horse trader whose little success went straight to alcohol; his wife Margaret begins working to try and provide a more stable income. Mack’s inebriation grows directly in proportion with longer periods spent at home with the children, and a young Virginia follows her mother’s example by allowing the man to be the undisputed ruler of the household. Around the age of seven, Virginia defends herself against her father by throwing a skillet of hot grease on him†¦ her following taunts so enrage him that his anger is vented on Margare t instead. Virginia recalls this moment as her first self-assertion†¦ seeing how quickly her father withdrew and feared her from this, Virginia chooses to never take such abuse again. Virginia’s biggest concern at the time is losing her father’s love, but soon realizes she has nothing to lose. She cites this realization as the guideline for the rest of her life: she cannot allow herself to be emotionally vulnerable, and therefore decides to never â€Å"love† a man. To some degree, this becomes the guideline of Hill’s life. Somewhere in the 1920’s Margaret Hill took the children and moved to