Focusing on the saloon halls gambling dens and winding alleys of the bowery and the notorious five points district the gangs of new york dramatically evokes the destitution and shocking violence of a turbulent era when colorfully named criminals like dandy john dolan bill the butcher and hell cat maggie lurked in the shadows and infamous gangs like the plug uglies the dead rabbits and the bowery boys ruled the streets a rogues gallery of prostitutes pimps poisoners pickpockets . The gangs of new york an informal history of the underworld is an american non fiction book by herbert asbury first published in 1927 by garden city publishing company. The gangs of new york by herbert asbury written in 1928 is a great read for those who love to read stories about crime and criminals that took place in new york city dating back to the early 1800s the book starts with the chapter entitled the cradle of the gangs which was the five points area in 1829. The gangs of new york an informal history of the underworld item preview remove circle share or embed this item embed embed for the gangs of new york an informal history of the underworld by asbury herbert 1891 1963 publication date 2001 topics gangs publisher