Wiseguy | Characters & Character Analysis

Wiseguy Important People

Henry Hill

Henry Hill's character is the main subject of the book, Wiseguy. Having come of age under the auspices of the mafia lifestyle, Henry embodies the gangster persona and ethos. Nicholas Pileggi, an author specializing in organized crime, finds that Henry Hill's story provides an unprecedented, authentic view into the world of the mafia. From a young age, Henry's ambition was to be a wiseguy. Henry starts to live out his dream when, as a young boy, he becomes involved with the powerful Vario. Henry is so enthralled with his new friends that he attempts to mimic them in every way. Mob boss Paul Vario becomes his primary role model, and Henry hustles to impress Paulie. At the age of thirteen, Henry "was a cardboard wiseguy, a youngster dressed up for the mob. But he was also learning about that world, and there were no adolescent aspiring samurai or teenage Buddhist...
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