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Real Books of War
🕑 Added 2025-02-09 00:23:29 +0000 UTCThese are (and will) be books that I think offer the best historical, social, political and economic analysis of the mafia phenomenon, and are also just straight up fantastic reads (except for my first choice).
I’ll be posting more recommendations as the months and years go on, but I think these should be enough to get you started for now. If I do anything right at all with BoW, it’ll be to signpost people to work like this.
History of the Mafia - Salvatore Lupo
This is by no means a criticism of Lupo, but the English translation of this is one of the most baffling tomes ever published. Be prepared to do some on-the-fly translating of your own as you navigate long, perplexing sentences that bear all the hallmarks of English, and yet frequently refuse to make any sense until the fifth or sixth pass. Unfortunately, this one just so happens to be required reading, so suck it up. Here’s hoping some kind publisher takes another shot at it and does right by Lupo.
Cosa Nostra - John Dickie
This is the must-read 101 for newcomers, and not the first Dickie I’ll be recommending. An international bestseller in its day. I also have a personal affection for it because my dad and I unwittingly bought each other a copy for Christmas 2004.
Chasing the Mafia - Anna Sergi
About the ‘ndrangheta, exploring the Calabrian mafia from a very personal perspective. It’s beautiful, illuminating and absorbing.
The Mafia and Politics - Michele Pantaleone
Pantaleone is a legend and was on the ground shit talking and warring against the mafia in its pomp. He basically issued a vendetta against Don Calogero Vizzini, who lived across the town square from him. We’ll be talking about Pantaleone in the future, so pay your respects now and read this book.
The Sicilian Mafia: The Business of Private Protection - Diego Gambetta
I shouldn’t need to explain myself here, I’m old school.
The Day of the Owl - Leonardo Sciasca
Some stone cold classic noir fiction to supplement the real horror.
The Leopard - Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa
As above, but not noir, and a wonderful exploration of Sicily and Italian unification.
Comments
Edo Velthuis
I bought Dickie’s book based off this recommendation and am absolutely engrossed in it!
Lars Flysjö
Great stuff. Cool to see Sergi here, I used her work when doing my master. Any further recommendations for the Camorra and 'Ndrangheta in particular?
