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Boardwalk Empire

the Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City
Aug 11, 2015lukasevansherman rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
I was a big fan of the HBO show, which wrapped up recently after 5 seasons. Like "Deadwood," it was based on real people and real events, but it also took liberties. Nelson Johnson's history of Atlantic City, which begins with is creation out of a strip of beach land and then traces it thorough its heyday during prohibition to its decline and then the arrival of one D. Trump in the 80s. There are actually only a few chapters about Nucky Johnson, the character played by Steve Buscemi in the show (as Nucky Thompson), who is described as being "tall, trim, and broad-shouldered." Johnson is a lawyer and not a professional writer and even though "Boardwalk Empire" is well researched, the writing is rather clunky, although I enjoyed his chapter on Trump, whose ego he describes as "the biggest since the Pharaohs." If you've seen the show, you'll like learning a little more about the real people who inspired the characters, but otherwise, it's a bit dull. Forward by show creator Terrence Winter.