Nelson Johnson's Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times and Corruption of Atlantic City is the story of Atlantic City and how it came to be, during construction, highlights and obvious political events. corruption. The popular television show Boardwalk Empire, starring Steve Buscemi, focuses on the role of his character, Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, rather than the growth of Atlantic City. Although Nucky Johnson was instrumental in Atlantic City's high points, the book focuses on the city itself and how it attracted many to it. The television pilot for Boardwalk Empire is set in 1920 Atlantic City. The audience is exposed to a flash forward during the opening scene. The pilot then reveals the character known as Nucky Thompson. Widower, political figure, powerful: Nucky assumes his role as "boss" of Atlantic City, supplying illegal alcohol to many people and thus making a fortune. From the pilot episode, we see Nucky as the stereotypical mob boss, a bad boy, capable of killing without feeling anything. He plays up his political side by telling a heartbreaking rags-to-riches story to the Women's Temperance League, making them all swoon in awe of his ability to persevere through the difficult times his father put him through. But then another side of Nucky appears. It shows the mighty Nucky, the one who parties all night, supplying illegal alcohol to those who pay for it. This contradiction of Nucky is fascinating because you first see Nucky as a strong, law-abiding figure, but then you quickly discover his devious and cunning ways, sneaking around the law, with the help of his sheriff brother, to avoid prison. for many of his crimes. We are also taken back to the middle of Nucky's generous and political paper......a place of illegal activity and political corruption. While changing bosses from the early days of Kuehnle, through the more powerful Nucky who reinvented Atlantic City, to Farley who finished with corruption, Atlantic City was a powerhouse for New Jersey due to its high corruption policy. The highly acclaimed TV show Boardwalk Empire revolves around Nucky “Thompson” and shows his royal lifestyle, high control of power, as well as his interactions with people. Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City is the story of Atlantic City, including those who shaped it into what it became. Works Cited “Boardwalk Empire.” Prescription. Terence Winter. Real. Martin Scorsese. HBO, 2012. DVD. Johnson, Nelson. Boardwalk Empire: The birth, high times and corruption of Atlantic City. Medford, New Jersey: Medford Book, 2002. Print.