Scarface is a 1930 crime novel by American author Armitage Trail, the pen name of Maurice Coons. The story follows Tony Guarino, a ruthless Italian-American gangster who rises to power in the Prohibition-era Chicago underworld through violence and cunning. The novel was inspired by the real-life exploits of Al Capone, and its title refers to the facial scar that both the fictional protagonist and Capone bore.
The novel was published in 1929 and quickly gained attention for its gritty, unflinching portrayal of organized crime. Though not a major bestseller upon release, it became influential after being adapted into the classic 1932 film Scarface, directed by Howard Hawks. Trail's work is considered an early example of the hardboiled crime genre, and its themes of ambition, corruption, and violent downfall have resonated through multiple adaptations, cementing its place in American popular culture.