'His narrative bowls along, powered by the sort of muscular prose one associates with great detective fiction. An exhilarating history.' -- Financial Times 'Exciting and well-written, it plays out like a 19th-century Sopranos'. -- Shortlist 'Both fine social history and hair-raising true crime, this account of the Italian underworld clans tells a grimly fascinating tale.' -- Independent 'Combines his trademark of scholarly documentation with a rattling good read.' -- Matthew Fort 'Chilling but essential reading if you want to understand the mindset of the darkest elements of Italian life.' -- RTE Guide 'By shining a light so powerfully into the darkest recesses of mafia mythology and history, Dickie's new book will certainly provide a concrete tool in the anti-mafia struggle to which many Italians and Calabrians in Australia and Italy are passionately committed.' -- Australian Literary Review 'enthralling ... chillingly charts the birth and rise of all three of Italy's mafias'. -- Dr John Guy 'enthralling ... chillingly charts the birth and rise of all three of Italy's mafias'. -- Dr John Guy

John Dickie is Professor of Italian Studies at University College London and an internationally recognised expert on many aspects of Italian history. In 2005 he was awarded the title Commendatore dell'Ordine della Stella della Solidarieta Italiana.