Mafia Brotherhoods: Camorra, mafia, 'ndrangheta: the rise of the Honoured Societies: Camorra, mafia, 'ndrangheta: the rise of the Honoured Societies

Blood Brotherhood with Cosa Nostra and Mafia Republic are a trilogy of books that charts the rise, influence, persistence and power of the three distinct 'fraternities' of Italian organised crime or Mafias. The book examines the foundation myths of the Mafias whilst explaining their beginnings and growth in Southern Italy; the Camorra from Naples, the 'Ndrangheta from Calabria and Cosa Nostra from Sicily. Rich in detail and brilliantly researched, this book describes with a steady anger and dismay the failure, decade on decade, of a modern country to eliminate these criminal organisations and their spread and influence in all areas of commerce, politics, the judiciary and the day to day lives of ordinary Italians. Italy, who has not known stable Government since the war, comes out badly. Attempts to defeat the Mafias often thwarted by corrupt politicians and judges, decent men routinely murdered, whole towns and cities in the grip of organised crime. Reading Blood Brotherhood is not for the fainthearted. Mafia influence goes to the top of Italian society. It has exported itself to America, its presence felt in other European countries. The book starts and this review ends with a quote from Corrado Alvaro 'The blackest despair that can take hold of any society is the fear that living honestly is futile'. A read that will leave you reeling.

Very detailed and informative account of the Italian Mafias. The author has done a great deal of research and gotten every possible important detail that he could find. The only down side is that you do not get a definite account of the origins of the mafias because either evidence has been destroyed, lost over time or more commonly the organisations were just to secretive and not much was ever revealed. You get some great fairy tales and myths though, so it is interesting just to hear about them. If you are interested in the history of the Italian mafias, then you will not find a better book than this. It is also worth checking out the other mafia books written by John Dickie. 10/10

A credible, clear and entertaining examination of organised secret crime cults in Italy, this colourful, sweeping account is rendered with apposite irony and a little disbelieving but appropriate humour. It's also nicely illustrated and has a straightforward structure which shades on the sociological but mostly leaves nit-picking analysis to more academic ( and less accessible) works.

This is the second John Dickie book I've read, the previous being Cosa Nostra: A History of the Sicilian Mafia. Dickie's books are very well researched and detailed, but he has a real flair for explaining in common sense terms which make it easy to understand.I especially like the way he reminds the reader of characters. For example a Mafia member he mentions in early chapters is also referenced in later ones - and if the many Italian names can be hard to remember he also gives little 'markers' to remind use (usually highlighting a distinguishing physical feature or violent trait).John Dickie is Professor of Italian Studies at University College London and an internationally recognised expert on many aspects of Italian history. His ability to explain the counttry's rich and violent history makes for pleasurable reading. I will continue to read his works.

well written book about the rise of italian mafias