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Books : Excellent Cadavers: Mafia and the Death of the First Italian Republic
Rating: 
- Brilliant (but numbing) story well written and researched
I can add little to all the other reviewers great praise for a book thatcompeletely destroys the Godfather/Sopranos image that seems to grip themedia whenever the Mafia/Cosa Nostra is covered. Highly recommended!
As this book shows in painstaking detail, the continual dangerousinterplay between endemic corruption and the related violence it producedin Sicily alongside the Italian political model in Sicily and Rome of thepost war years created a culture that was ultimately to cost Italy interms of economic development and lead in part to the country's majorbudget deficits of recent years.
It took the courage of the two heroes of this story plus many others namedin the book, most of whom were sadly killed before the final fruits oftheir efforts were seen, to make a difference and get prosections thathurt the criminal gangs operating in Italy and other Southern Italyregions. That this was against endless obstacles and bureaucracy oftenpolitically motivated shows what real heroes these men were. Stille'shandling of all the characters and the many different political andcriminal elements and events is what makes the book such a memorableread.
My reason for using the description "numbing" is that sadly over its 400odd pages, just the sheer volume of murders that occurred leaves onenumbed, especially at the stories of the Corleonese gang's war of outrightextermination of any rivals.
Rating: - My favourite book
I'm not joking this is my favourite book of all time. I don't cry easily but at the end of this book I had a tear in my eye. I loved the scene of all the people gathering around the court house wondering what they were going to do without Falcone.
A really great book.
Rating: - One Of The Finest Peices Of Work I Have Ever Read!
What Alex stille doesn't know about the Sicilian Mafia isn't worth knowing. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of the clans in Sicily, and there are quite a few of them beleive me. I love the way he has put the book together, I found it a pleasure to read, his accuracy of the major events is amazing and his research refreshing. All the way through the book you can tell how much effort and hard work that he has put in to this thrilling, factual version of the lives of Judges Facone and Borselino. I have read a number of crime books, but the reason why I rate this above any other is because while many authors continuesly criticise the criminals forwhat they are Mr Stille veiws the men of honour with an open mind, which again is quite refreshing. an excellent effort Well done.
Rating: - A gripping account of two men's fight for justice in Sicily
The book explains the real build up of power of la cosa nostra since the 2nd World War, detailing the "mafia wars" that took place to gain supreme control of not only Sicily but America and many other countries involved in illegal activities. Crucially the book details the lifelong friendship of Borsellino and Falcone and their struggle to get the correct level of support from the Rome Parliament to combat the mafia. Always captavating this book goes straight to the heart of the mafia and shows it's strength and weaknesses.A brilliant book
Rating: - A brilliant book, read it!
A brilliant book detailing the heroic attempts of the Italian judiciary to combat the Mafia, forget Puzo and "The Godfather". This book shows the real Mafia slaughtering men, women and children in their desire to hold onto power. If Hollywood needs an epic about the Mafia then the stories of the lives of Falcone and Borsallino should be it. Their deaths are stain on the reputation of Italy.
If you want to read a book on the Mafia this is it!
- Brilliant (but numbing) story well written and researchedI can add little to all the other reviewers great praise for a book thatcompeletely destroys the Godfather/Sopranos image that seems to grip themedia whenever the Mafia/Cosa Nostra is covered. Highly recommended!
As this book shows in painstaking detail, the continual dangerousinterplay between endemic corruption and the related violence it producedin Sicily alongside the Italian political model in Sicily and Rome of thepost war years created a culture that was ultimately to cost Italy interms of economic development and lead in part to the country's majorbudget deficits of recent years.
It took the courage of the two heroes of this story plus many others namedin the book, most of whom were sadly killed before the final fruits oftheir efforts were seen, to make a difference and get prosections thathurt the criminal gangs operating in Italy and other Southern Italyregions. That this was against endless obstacles and bureaucracy oftenpolitically motivated shows what real heroes these men were. Stille'shandling of all the characters and the many different political andcriminal elements and events is what makes the book such a memorableread.
My reason for using the description "numbing" is that sadly over its 400odd pages, just the sheer volume of murders that occurred leaves onenumbed, especially at the stories of the Corleonese gang's war of outrightextermination of any rivals.
Rating:
- My favourite bookI'm not joking this is my favourite book of all time. I don't cry easily but at the end of this book I had a tear in my eye. I loved the scene of all the people gathering around the court house wondering what they were going to do without Falcone.
A really great book.
Rating:
- One Of The Finest Peices Of Work I Have Ever Read!What Alex stille doesn't know about the Sicilian Mafia isn't worth knowing. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of the clans in Sicily, and there are quite a few of them beleive me. I love the way he has put the book together, I found it a pleasure to read, his accuracy of the major events is amazing and his research refreshing. All the way through the book you can tell how much effort and hard work that he has put in to this thrilling, factual version of the lives of Judges Facone and Borselino. I have read a number of crime books, but the reason why I rate this above any other is because while many authors continuesly criticise the criminals forwhat they are Mr Stille veiws the men of honour with an open mind, which again is quite refreshing. an excellent effort Well done.
Rating:
- A gripping account of two men's fight for justice in SicilyThe book explains the real build up of power of la cosa nostra since the 2nd World War, detailing the "mafia wars" that took place to gain supreme control of not only Sicily but America and many other countries involved in illegal activities. Crucially the book details the lifelong friendship of Borsellino and Falcone and their struggle to get the correct level of support from the Rome Parliament to combat the mafia. Always captavating this book goes straight to the heart of the mafia and shows it's strength and weaknesses.A brilliant book
Rating:
- A brilliant book, read it!A brilliant book detailing the heroic attempts of the Italian judiciary to combat the Mafia, forget Puzo and "The Godfather". This book shows the real Mafia slaughtering men, women and children in their desire to hold onto power. If Hollywood needs an epic about the Mafia then the stories of the lives of Falcone and Borsallino should be it. Their deaths are stain on the reputation of Italy.
If you want to read a book on the Mafia this is it!