Live by Night

For the film based on the novel, see Live by Night (film).
Live by Night
Author Dennis Lehane
Country United States
Language English
Genre Crime fiction
Publisher William Morrow and Company
Publication date
 January 1, 2012 (2012-01-01)
Media type Hardcover, audiobook
Pages 401
ISBN 978-0060004873
OCLC 794214253

Live by Night is a crime novel by Dennis Lehane that was published in 2012. It won a 2013 Edgar Award for novel of the year.[1]

Plot summary

By 1926, Prohibition in the United States had given rise to an endless network of underground distilleries, speakeasies, gangsters, and corrupt cops. Joe Coughlin, the youngest son of a prominent Boston police captain, defies his proper upbringing by climbing a ladder of organized crime that takes him from Boston to Ybor City, Florida, to Havana, Cuba, where he encounters a dangerous cast of characters who are all fighting for their piece of the American dream.

When the novel begins, Joe is in the employ of one of Boston's most powerful mobsters, Tim Hickey. Joe and two friends knock off a gambling room located behind a speakeasy. Unbeknownst to them, the speakeasy belonged to Albert White, their boss's biggest rival. Emma Gould, a server in the room and White's mistress, catches Joe's attention. They begin an affair.

Coughlin is later sent to Charlestown Penitentiary after a bank robbery goes awry. On the night of his arrest, the car Emma is travelling in crashes into a river and she is presumed dead. Joe comes under the protection of Italian mobster Maso Pescatore while in prison. While Joe and his police captain father had a complicated relationship, Thomas agrees to do Pescatore's bidding to keep Joe safe in prison. The stress of these dealings give Thomas a fatal heart attack.

Upon release, Pescatore sends Joe to Tampa, Florida, to solidify the family's rum-running operation. Joe builds a highly successful business with his henchman, Dion. Still grieving for Emma, he encounters a fiery Cuban expatriate and revolutionary, Graciela Corrales, upon arrival in Tampa and they become an intensely devoted couple. Graciela convinces Joe to mastermind the robbery of a weapons cache from an American warship to aid Fulgencio Batista's overthrow of Cuban strongman Gerardo Machado.[2]

While building his empire, Joe fights against the Ku Klux Klan. The local chief of the Klan is related to Figgis, the Tampa police chief. Joe blackmails Figgis with pornographic and drug-addled photographs of the man’s beautiful daughter Loretta, whom Figgis had believed was working in Los Angeles, California, as an actress. Figgis's daughter later returns to Tampa and becomes a famous preacher. Loretta later reveals to Joe that she does not believe in God and is merely performing. Loretta later commits suicide and it is revealed that she was sexually abused by her father.

When Pescatore decides to replace Joe in Florida with his own dimwitted son, Albert White uses this opportunity to seek revenge against Joe, whom he blames for Emma's death. Joe escapes and regains control of his empire.

Joe and his wife Graciela, and their small son, return to her homeland of Havana, Cuba, to live a quieter life. Dion becomes head of the family while Joe acts as an advisor. While in Cuba, Joe meets Emma outside the brothel where she works. She reveals she was involved in Joe's arrest. When Joe and Graciela return to the United States for a visit, Graciela is shot and killed by Figgis. Joe turns his back on organized crime and to live a more mundane life with his son.

Film adaptation

Main article: Live by Night (film)

Warner Bros. is developing a film adaptation with Ben Affleck directing, scripting, producing and starring in it as Joe Coughlin, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson Killoran serving as producers.[3][4] Warner Bros. shifted the release date from on December 25, 2015, to October 7, 2016.[5]

On September 4, 2014, new cast members included Sienna Miller as Emma Gould, Elle Fanning as Loretta Figgis and Zoe Saldana as Graciella Suarez.[6] In November 2014, it was reported that Affleck was considering Jon Bernthal for a role.[7] On July 9, 2015, it is announced that the film has been green lit with plans to begin production in November 2015.[8] On August 7, 2015, it was reported that the film had been pushed back to 2017. On October 20, 2015, Chris Cooper joined the cast.[9] Filming began on October 28, 2015.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Kepler, Adam W. (May 3, 2013). "Lehane's 'Live by Night' Wins Edgar Award". New York Times. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  2. ↑ Woog, Adam (October 21, 2012). "Lehane's 'Live by Night': An Ex-Con's Destiny in Mid-20th-Century Cuba". The Seattle Times. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  3. ↑ Finke, Nikki (May 7, 2013). "Ben Affleck and Warner Bros Set Next Film: Dennis Lehane Crime Novel 'Live by Night'". Deadline.com. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  4. ↑ Staff (November 5, 2013). "Jersey Boys' and Ben Affleck's 'Live by Night' Get Release Dates". Deadline.com. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  5. ↑ Staff (May 6, 2014). "Warner Bros Pushes Ben Affleck's 'Live by Night', Dates 'Midnight Special' & 3 Others". Deadline.com. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  6. ↑ Fleming Jr., Mike (September 4, 2014). "Sienna Miller, Zoe Saldana & Elle Fanning Join Ben Affleck's 'Live by Night'". Deadline.com. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  7. ↑ Sneider, Jeff (November 14, 2014). "'Fury' Star Jon Bernthal in Talks to Join Ben Affleck in 'The Accountant' (Exclusive)". TheWrap. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Ben Affleck's 'Live by Night' Gets Greenlight, November Start Date (EXCLUSIVE)". variety.com. July 11, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Warner Bros. Delays Ben Affleck Movies The Accountant and Live By Night". comingsoon.net. August 7, 2015. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Ben Affleck's Next Directorial Effort, 'Live by Night', Is Finally Filming". collider.com. October 28, 2015. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
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