THE VENDETTA FBI Hero Melvin Purvis's War Against Crime, and J. Edgar Hoover's War Against Him

Hardback. The author chronicles the remarkable career and tragic downfall of his father, Melvin Purvis, a celebrated FBI agent in the 1930s. At just 31, Melvin led the agency’s fight against notorious Depression-era gangsters like John Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd, and Baby Face Nelson, earning nationwide fame as a G-Man hero. However, his success ignited a fierce rivalry with FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, who grew jealous of Purvis’s spotlight. Hoover launched a relentless campaign to undermine Purvis, forcing his resignation in 1935 and later tarnishing his legacy by erasing his contributions from FBI records. Drawing on family archives and new testimonies, Alston Purvis offers a gripping, authentic retelling of this era from the pursuers’ perspective, exposing Hoover’s paranoia and vindictiveness. The book restores Melvin’s reputation while highlighting the personal cost of his triumphs in America’s war on crime. Illus., Epilogue and Index. 363pp. lge. 8vo. h/back. F. in F. dw. A fairly heavy book which may require additional postage if shipped overseas.