History of the Mafia

When we think of the Italian mafia, we think of Marlon Brando, Tony Soprano, and the Corleones—iconic actors and characters who give shady dealings a mythical pop presence. Yet these sensational depictions take us only so far. The true story of the mafia reveals both an organization and mindset dedicated to the preservation of tradition. As this book makes clear, it is no accident that the rise of the mafia coincided with the unification of Italy and the influx of immigrants into America. The mafia means more than a horse head under the sheets—it represents an alternative to the state, a family that provides its own social and political justice.

Salvatore Lupo teaches contemporary history at the University of Palermo. His research interests focus on Italian history during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, with a special focus on fascism and the Mafia. He is the associate editor in chief of the journal Meridiana, the most respected forum for the multidisciplinary discussion of the history and society of southern Italy.

Antony Shugaar is a translator and author and received an NEA fellowship for his translation of Nanni Balestrini's Sandokan.


August 2009
History of the Mafia
Salvatore Lupo
Translated by Antony Shugaar
448 pages 978-0-231-13134-6, cloth, $32.95 / £19.95
History