About the Author

John Dickie is both an academic cultural historian and an advertising copywriter and researcher for several major international companies. He is Senior Lecturer in Italian at UCL and has written articles and books on many aspects of Italian history.

Reviews

I couldn't put it down. His archival sleuthing is yoked to his powerful, often coruscating storytelling to create a chilling account of the mafia's sinister, horrific reality. - John Guy, The Sunday TimesRiveting - Sunday TelegraphA readable, highly informative, admirably systematic account of how the Mafia attained its hold. - Times Literary SupplementHighly readable...compelling. The narrative is entertaining and, at times, as chilling as the darkest crime fiction. At its best, it combines compelling horror with clear, rational analysis of the moral and political failings, which, even today, give the mafia a seat at many top tables in Italian society. - Glasgow HeraldLucid...grimly readable. - Daily TelegraphThe first truly definitive English-language study of this myth-laden subject, and it is a pleasure to read...his book is notable for shrewd judgements couched in language that is vibrantly memorable. His acquaintance with the island and his immersion in the wider modern Italian culture allows him to convey the noxious atmosphere of corruption with flair. - Sunday TimesMonumental and gripping - Andrew Marr, BBC Start the WeekCombines scholarship with a rip-roaring read - Sunday Herald

I couldn't put it down. His archival sleuthing is yoked to his powerful, often coruscating storytelling to create a chilling account of the mafia's sinister, horrific reality. - John Guy, The Sunday TimesRiveting - Sunday TelegraphA readable, highly informative, admirably systematic account of how the Mafia attained its hold. - Times Literary SupplementHighly readable...compelling. The narrative is entertaining and, at times, as chilling as the darkest crime fiction. At its best, it combines compelling horror with clear, rational analysis of the moral and political failings, which, even today, give the mafia a seat at many top tables in Italian society. - Glasgow HeraldLucid...grimly readable. - Daily TelegraphThe first truly definitive English-language study of this myth-laden subject, and it is a pleasure to read...his book is notable for shrewd judgements couched in language that is vibrantly memorable. His acquaintance with the island and his immersion in the wider modern Italian culture allows him to convey the noxious atmosphere of corruption with flair. - Sunday TimesMonumental and gripping - Andrew Marr, BBC Start the WeekCombines scholarship with a rip-roaring read - Sunday Herald