Into the Heart of the Mafia [Paperback]

David Lane (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 23, 2009

The hold of the Mafia on southern Italy, from Naples, home of Mafia-controlled mozzarella and toxic waste, through no less rotten Calabria to Sicily, cradle of Cosa Nostra, is as strong as ever. In this memorable journey round the cities and villages of the Italian South, David Lane gives us out of his unrivaled knowledge of Italy a telling expose of the operations of the Mafia today. Lane shows how globalisation has transformed the Mafia into more than simply a local phenomenon. It describes in painful detail the daily accommodation to Mafia pressure endured by priests, politicians and prosecutors, businessmen, trade unionists and ordinary citizens. At the same time he incorporates a portrait of the South's long and tumultuous history and powerful flavors to provide a richly colored portrait of a European region under siege. 'Over decades of living in Italy and traveling in the South, I have built up a huge network of contacts from all walks of life which gives me a unique advantage and special strength in tackling the subject. I'll show the risks undertaken by magistrates, police and members of civil society whose commitment to their cause weakens but has not destroyed the Mafia's influence. My portrait of Italy has to be at variance with the commonplaces of food, the Tuscan sun and the beauties of heritage and culture.'

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David Lane has written for the Guardian and the Financial Times, and since 1994 has been The Economist's Business and Finance Correspondent for Italy. His last book was the highly regarded Berlusconi's Shadow (2004). He has lived in Rome since 1972.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Profile Books (April 23, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 184668269X
• ISBN-13: 978-1846682698
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,919,868 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book I own!, May 25, 2009

By 

Christopher Curatolo - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Into the Heart of the Mafia (Paperback)

Well written. The best book I own. The unusual style of writing about personal experiences rather than a retread of already known facts lets the follower of this subject learn more. This is the first book I own that doesn't just force feed me what I already know. Especially helpful are the details of why the South of Italy is so impoverished. Other books only tell me that they are impoverished.

5.0 out of 5 stars A solid and well written account of authors travels in Southern Italy., August 11, 2011

By 

The Historian "History is my business." (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Into the Heart of the Mafia (Paperback)

This is an excellent account of the interplay of powerful forces of corruption in southern Italy, via organised crime and corrupt politicians and government officials.The Mafia thrives on corruption, weakness and the love of money, and this book succeeds brilliantly at exposing this activity at national and provincial levels of life in Italy. Make no mistake Organised Crime has Italy by the balls with its power, money and criminal networks inspired by fear, greed, intimidation and brute force. This no account of who whacked who in the Mafia but a solid, detailed well written account of organised crime and how it infiltrates into high areas of government and policy.

We travel around Southern Italy as the author writes of his experiences and meetings with prosecutors, police, business, local mayors and government official and their accounts of fighting the grip of Organised Crime in their cities, towns or regions. They sum addition of their efforts is to sometimes wound or obstruct the mafia or put some away in jail. These brave, remarkable people are standing up for what they believe is a better and just way of life and they do it publicly and thereby put their own life at risk. These honest officials labour under the odds to enforce the law, but there are powerful interests and people at the highest levels of political power who just wish they would go away.

Well written Mr Lane!

1.0 out of 5 stars Lacking, March 9, 2011

By 

Anonymous - See all my reviews

This review is from: Into the Heart of the Mafia (Paperback)

I was excited to read this book, knowing very little about the subject. The book, however, has absolutely no plot nor a thesis beyond "the mafia is everywhere in Southern Italy". Far too much time is spent describing inane and irrelevant details and far too little in connecting the dots between the vignettes of one town to another. I haven't read any of David Lane's other books, but based on my read of this one, Mr. Lane should stick to short prose.