The Untouchables (1957 book)
Encyclopedia
The Untouchables is an autobiographical memoir by Eliot Ness
and Oscar Fraley
, published in 1957. The book deals with the experiences of Eliot Ness, a federal
agent in the Bureau of Prohibition
, as he fights crime in Chicago in the late 1920s and early 1930s with the help of a special team of agents handpicked for their incorruptibility, nicknamed the Untouchables
.
The main part of the book is written in first-person anecdotal style, as if directly from Ness's reminisces; a foreword and afterword by Fraley provide historical context. In fact, Fraley, who was a prominent sportswriter for United Press
when he worked on the book, did most of the writing, although Ness approved the final version of the text shortly before his death.
Eliot Ness
Eliot Ness was an American Prohibition agent, famous for his efforts to enforce Prohibition in Chicago, Illinois, and the leader of a legendary team of law enforcement agents nicknamed The Untouchables.- Early life :...
and Oscar Fraley
Oscar Fraley
Oscar Fraley was the co-author, with Eliot Ness, of the famous American memoir The Untouchables. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Fraley grew up across the Delaware River in Woodbury, New Jersey....
, published in 1957. The book deals with the experiences of Eliot Ness, a federal
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
agent in the Bureau of Prohibition
Bureau of Prohibition
The Bureau of Prohibition was the federal law enforcement agency formed to enforce the National Prohibition Act of 1919, commonly known as the Volstead Act, which backed up the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution regarding the prohibition of the manufacture, sale, and transportation...
, as he fights crime in Chicago in the late 1920s and early 1930s with the help of a special team of agents handpicked for their incorruptibility, nicknamed the Untouchables
The Untouchables (law enforcement)
The Untouchables was a group of 13 U.S. federal law-enforcement agents, led by Eliot Ness, who, from 1929 to 1931, worked to end Al Capone's illegal activities by aggressively enforcing Prohibition and tax laws against Capone and his organization...
.
The main part of the book is written in first-person anecdotal style, as if directly from Ness's reminisces; a foreword and afterword by Fraley provide historical context. In fact, Fraley, who was a prominent sportswriter for United Press
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
when he worked on the book, did most of the writing, although Ness approved the final version of the text shortly before his death.