TEHRAN-American novelist and screenwriter W. R. Burnett’s 1929 book “Little Caesar” has recently been published in Persian.

Translated by Parviz Nasiri, the book has been published by Anapana Publications in Tehran.

"Little Caesar" is a crime novel that centers around the rise and fall of a small-time thug named Rico Bandello, and his friend Joe Massara, an aspiring dancer. Set against the backdrop of Prohibition-era Chicago, the story follows Rico's ruthless ambition to climb the ranks of the criminal underworld. While Rico quickly aligns himself with the gang of Sam Vettori, Joe hopes to pursue a career in dance, finding a partner and girlfriend in Olga.

As the story progresses, Joe attempts to distance himself from the criminal world, but Rico pulls him into a dire situation—a botched robbery at Joe’s nightclub job. During this heist, Rico brazenly disregards "Big Boy" (the underworld’s supreme authority)'s directive to avoid violence, killing the crime-fighting Commissioner Alvin McClure in a shocking act that horrifies Joe. The incident sets off a chain of events that sees gang member Tony killed on Rico's orders when he threatens to inform the authorities about the robbery.

With the power dynamics within the gang shifting, Rico grows increasingly assertive, chastising Sam for being weak and usurping control of the organization. Driven by ambition, Rico attempts to eliminate his rivals, narrowly escaping an assassination attempt.

As Rico's power grows, so does his paranoia. Fearing Joe knows too much, he demands that Joe abandon Olga and fully commit to life in crime, threatening both their lives should Joe refuse. In a desperate act of fidelity, Olga contacts Police Sergeant Flaherty to inform him that Joe is ready to provide evidence against Rico. This news prompts a tense confrontation between the three men. Despite his intentions, Rico finds himself unable to kill Joe when the moment comes. In a chaotic struggle, Otero, one of Rico's henchmen, tries to finish the job but ends up shot dead when police arrive in response to the commotion.

With his criminal empire crumbling and paranoia consuming him, Rico embarks on a downward spiral, retreating to a rundown flophouse. In a moment of desperation, he learns from a newspaper that Flaherty has labeled him a coward, which incites him to make a reckless call to the police, declaring his intention to confront the officer. That fateful call leads to his downfall, as it is traced and results in a deadly confrontation. Rico is cornered and ultimately killed by Flaherty, his last moments haunted by his own choices. 

"Little Caesar" starkly portrays themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the consequences of crime, illustrating how the pursuit of power can lead to one’s inevitable downfall. 

Ultimately, "Little Caesar" portrays Rico as a tragic figure, illustrating how the quest for dominance results not just in personal ruin but also in the loss of humanity. The novel is notable for its gritty realism and direct exploration of the gangster archetype, making it a seminal work in American crime fiction and influencing the genre in literature and film.

William Riley "W. R." Burnett was a celebrated American novelist and screenwriter, renowned for his crime novel "Little Caesar," which marked the beginning of the classic American gangster film genre. Born in Springfield, Ohio, Burnett transitioned from a civil service job to Chicago at 28, where he had already penned over 100 short stories and five unpublished novels. 

Throughout his career, Burnett was prolific, creating at least one novel annually and adapting many into screenplays. His thematic approach often paralleled contemporaries like Dashiell Hammett and James M. Cain; however, he uniquely contrasted the urban decay of city life with the idealism of pastoral dreams. His characters frequently find themselves ensnared in crime, striving for redemption but ultimately thwarted by an oppressive system.

Burnett’s writing explored complex moral landscapes where virtue could emerge from gangsters, and malice from authority figures, highlighting the human struggle within flawed systems. He collaborated with legendary figures such as Raoul Walsh, John Huston, and Humphrey Bogart, receiving an Oscar nomination for "Wake Island" and a Writers Guild nomination for "The Great Escape." Upon his death in 1982, he was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

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