Jimmy Breslin

Jimmy Breslin (1928-2017) was an influential American journalist and author who became synonymous with New York City street journalism. Over a career spanning more than five decades, he wrote for major publications including the New York Daily News, Newsday, and the New York Herald Tribune, earning the 1986 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary. Known for his distinctive writing style, Breslin specialized in columns that captured the essence of working-class New York, often focusing on ordinary citizens and underdogs while also covering major political figures and crime bosses. His coverage of the Son of Sam murders and his column about President John F. Kennedy's gravedigger exemplify his talent for finding compelling angles in major news stories. Among Breslin's notable works are "The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight" (1969), "World Without End, Amen" (1973), and "The Good Rat" (2008). His sharp observations and authentic portrayal of New York City life influenced generations of journalists and writers who followed in his footsteps. The chronicler of New York's streets continued writing well into his later years, maintaining a Sunday column for the New York Daily News until shortly before his death in 2017. Throughout his career, Breslin remained committed to telling stories about ordinary people, maintaining his reputation as a voice for the working class.

Readers appreciate Breslin's gritty, street-level reporting style and his ability to find compelling stories in overlooked places. His columns and books receive particular praise for capturing authentic New York voices and personalities. Readers highlight his books "The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight" and "Can't Anybody Here Play This Game?" as standouts for their humor and characterization. Many note his talent for blending journalism with storytelling techniques. Common criticisms include his sometimes unfocused narrative style and tendency to meander away from central topics. Some readers find his prose overly colloquial or difficult to follow. Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: - The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight: 3.8/5 (1,200+ ratings) - The Good Rat: 3.7/5 (800+ ratings) - Branch Rickey: 3.6/5 (300+ ratings) Amazon: - The Short Sweet Dream of Eduardo Gutierrez: 4.3/5 - The Church That Forgot Christ: 3.9/5 - World Without End, Amen: 4.1/5

Can't Anybody Here Play This Game? (1963) Chronicles the disastrous first season of the New York Mets baseball team, documenting their record-setting 120 losses.

The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1969) A fictional account of Brooklyn gang warfare based loosely on real mob figure Joey Gallo and his crew.

World Without End, Amen (1973) Follows a New York City police officer who travels to Northern Ireland during The Troubles.

How the Good Guys Finally Won (1975) Details the Watergate scandal and the process that led to President Nixon's resignation.

Table Money (1986) A novel about a sandhog tunnel worker and his wife in Queens, exploring blue-collar life in New York City.

The Church That Forgot Christ (2004) An examination of the Catholic Church's sexual abuse scandal from a personal perspective.

The Good Rat (2008) A non-fiction account of mob informant Burton Kaplan and Brooklyn's criminal underworld.

Branch Rickey (2011) A biography of the baseball executive who brought Jackie Robinson to the major leagues.

Pete Hamill wrote about New York City's streets and characters with the same ground-level perspective as Breslin, covering both everyday people and major political events. His work at the New York Post and Daily News paralleled Breslin's career path and focus on urban life.

Gay Talese pioneered New Journalism alongside Breslin, combining detailed reporting with narrative storytelling techniques. His pieces for The New York Times and Esquire focused on similar themes of city life and the stories of both prominent and ordinary New Yorkers.

Mike Royko wrote newspaper columns in Chicago that matched Breslin's style of championing working-class perspectives and challenging political power. His coverage of city politics and daily life at the Chicago Daily News and Chicago Tribune reflected the same mix of hard-hitting reporting and storytelling.

Murray Kempton covered New York politics and society with the same mix of street reporting and literary style that characterized Breslin's work. His columns for the New York Post and Newsday focused on similar themes of power, corruption, and the lives of ordinary citizens.

Mike McAlary reported on crime and police corruption in New York City during the 1980s and 1990s with Breslin's same attention to detail and insider sources. His work at the New York Daily News and New York Post followed Breslin's tradition of investigating the city's underbelly while giving voice to overlooked stories.