Cosa Nostra : a history of the Sicilian Mafia

Hailed in Italy as the best book ever written about the mafia in any language, Cosa Nostra is a fascinating, violent, and darkly comic account that reads like fiction and takes us deep into the inner sanctum of this secret society where few have dared to tread.In this gripping history of the Sicilian mafia, John Dickie uses startling new research to reveal the inner workings of this secret society with a murderous record. He explains how the mafia began, how it responds to threats and challenges, and introduces us to the real-life characters that inspired the American imagination for generations, making the mafia an international, larger than life cultural phenomenon. Dickie's dazzling cast of characters includes Antonio Giammona, the first "boss of bosses''; New York cop Joe Petrosino, who underestimated the Sicilian mafia and paid for it with his life; and Bernard "the Tractor" Provenzano, the current boss of bosses who has been hiding in Sicily since 1963.

the Gold Dagger Award-winning History Of The Sicilian Mafia

library Journal

journalist Dickie (italian Studies, University Coll., London) Has Written A Fascinating History Of The Mafia In Sicily From The 1860s Through The Early 21st Century. Having Emerged In And Around Palermo During The Troubled 1860s With The Attempt To Incorporate The Island Into The New Italian State, The Mafia Gained Increasing Control Over Local Government Using Threats And Murder; By The 1870s, Sicilian Politicians Versed In The System Had Entered The Central Government. Mussolini Moved To Destroy The Influences Of The Bosses During The 1920s And 1930s, But Many Escaped By Emigrating To The United States, Helping To Build The American Mafia, Which In Turn Helped Reestablish The Mafia In Sicily At The End Of World War Ii. Public Outcry Finally Led To A Crackdown During The 1990s. Drawing On Interviews As Well As Secondary Sources Like Newspaper Articles, Dickie Portrays The Mafia As Containing Elements Of An Illegal Business, A Sworn Secret Society, And A Shadow State Operating Within The Larger Nation-state. This Solid, Scholarly Contribution Is Broader And More Accessible Than Henner Hess's Mafia And Mafiosi: Origins, Power And Myth Or Jane And Peter Schneide's Reversible Destiny: Mafia, Antimafia And The Struggle For Palermo. Recommended For All Libraries.-stephen L. Hupp, West Virginia Univ. Lib., Parkersburg Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 Prologue......Page 14 Introduction......Page 22 Men of Honour......Page 28 1 The Genesis of the Mafia 1860–1876......Page 36 2 The Mafia Enters the Italian System 1876–1890......Page 70 3 Corruption in High Places 1890–1904......Page 88 4 Socialism, Fascism, Mafia 1893–1943......Page 132 5 The Mafia Establishes Itself in America 1900–1941......Page 162 6 War and Rebirth 1943–1950......Page 192 7 God, Concrete, Heroin, and Cosa Nostra 1950–1963......Page 218 8 The ‘First’ Mafia War and its Consequences 1962–1969......Page 242 9 The Origins of the Second Mafia War 1970–1982......Page 260 10 Terra Infidelium 1983–1992......Page 294 11 Bombs and Submersion 1992–2003......Page 312 Acknowledgements......Page 340 Picture Acknowledgements......Page 343 Bibliography......Page 344 Notes on Sources......Page 356 B......Page 362 C......Page 363 D......Page 364 G......Page 365 L......Page 366 M......Page 367 P......Page 368 R......Page 369 U......Page 370 Z......Page 371 The Italian-American mafia has its roots in a mysterious and powerful criminal network in Sicily. While the mythology of the mafia has been widely celebrated in American culture, the true origins of its rituals, laws, and methods have never actually been revealed. John Dickie uses startling new research to expose the secrets of the Sicilian mafia, providing a fascinating account that is more violent, frightening, and darkly comic than anything conceived in popular movies and novels. How did the Sicilian mafia begin? How did it achieve its powerful grip in Italy and America? How does it operate today? From the mafia's origins in the 1860s to its current tense relationship with the Berlusconi government, "Cosa Nostra" takes us to the inner sanctum where few have dared to go before. This is an important work of history and a revelation for anyone who ever wondered what it means to be "made" in the mob A history of the Mafia from the 1860s through the early 21st century. Having emerged in and around Palermo during the 1860s with the attempt to incorporate Sicily into the new Italian state, the Mafia gained increasing control over local government using threats and murder; by the 1870s, Mafia-versed Sicilian politicians had entered the central government. Mussolini moved to destroy the bosses' influences during the 1920s and 1930s, but many escaped by emigrating to the United States, helping to build the American Mafia, which in turn helped reestablish the Mafia in Sicily at the end of World War II. Public outcry finally led to a crackdown during the 1990s. Drawing on interviews as well as secondary sources like newspaper articles, Dickie portrays the Mafia as containing elements of an illegal business, a sworn secret society, and a shadow state operating within the larger nation-state "Cosa Nostra vividly reconstructs the stories of the men and women who have lived and died in the mafia's shadow. It explains how the mafia began, how it responds to threats and challenges and how it maintains its grip on the society where it was born. Cosa Nostra takes us inside the thought-processes of the mafia's leaders and foot soldiers, its friends and its foes. Its cast of characters includes Antonino Giammona, the first man with a claim to the title 'boss of bosses'; Emanuele Notarbartolo, the honest and courageous banker who in 1893 became the mafia's first 'eminent corpse'; New York cop Joe Petrosino who underestimated the Sicilian mafia and paid for this with his life, and Bernardo 'the Tractor' Provenzano, the current boss of bosses who has been in hiding in Sicily since 1963"--Jacket Traces The Story Of The Mafia In Sicily, Drawing On New Research To Profile The Organization As A Secret Society Whose Influence Is Based On Murder, Offering Vivid Reconstructions Of The People Whose Lives It Has Marked, And Sharing Insight Into How It Operates And Retains Power. 25,000 First Printing. Traces the story of the Mafia in Sicily, drawing on new research to profile the organization as a secret society whose influence is based on murder, offering vivid reconstructions of the people whose lives it has marked, and sharing insight into how it operates and retains power. Reprint. Palermo became an Italian city on 7 June 1860 when, under the terms of a ceasefire, two long columns of defeated troops snaked out from its eastern edges, and doubled back round outside the walls to await the ships that would ferry them home to Naples. From the mafia's origins in the 1860s to its current tense relationship with the Berlusconi government, this is a vivid and gripping history of the Sicilian Mafia's inner sanctum. Om den sicilianske mafias historie fra 1860 til 2003