Excellent Cadavers : The Mafia and the Death of the First Italian Republic

Rating:
Summary: first rate
Review: A totally first rate work of reporting and writing. stille's book never drowns in its detail, but remains readable and informative, even for someone who doesn't know the ins and outs of italian politics. he really brings anti-mafia investigators borsellino and falcone alive, and comes as close as anyone can to trying to explain what drives former prime minister andreotti. if you are interested in italy, this is a great historical document. if you aren't, treat it as a great crime thriller, except that it's all true.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing History
Review: Rarely has a non-fiction book riveted me this much. Excellent Cadavers is a story so amazing that it would seem to be the invention of a European social novelist extraordinaire. Shockingly, every word that journalist and writer Alexander Stille puts to paper is tragically true. It is the story of Italy, a beautiful and legendary part of post-war Western Europe. Home to the Vatican, of the Renaissance, and some of the most extraordinary artisans and writers in all of western history, Italy seemed relatively well suited to succeed after World War II. However, these dreams were quickly snuffed out by an organization that would use any means necessary to protect their vast international criminal empire, which brought in millions upon millions of dollars. This book tells the story of this group of murderous thugs that managed to corrupt an entire country, effectively creating a shadow government, which enabled them to profit from the hard working taxpaying citizens. It is also the story of two men who decided that it had gone far enough, and they, with the help of a precious few band of brave men, would cure the cancer that had afflicted their country and province for the better part of a century.

The group of course was Cosa Nostra, a shadowy group of professional criminals that formed a tightly knit family of crime. Their ranks were highly structured, with bosses, captains, and soldiers. Originating from the violent land of Sicily, La Cosa Nostra quickly took advantage of the turbulent world of Italian politics and the rising worldwide narcotics trade. Their access to narcotics gave them almost limitless wealth, which enabled them to bribe and corrupt whole swaths of the Italian government and the justice system. Judges, prosecutors, police chiefs, ministers, and even governors were not safe from the mafia's reach, as they would kill literally anyone to make sure everyone else followed orders. Soon, mafia wars sprung up, where hundreds upon hundreds of people would be killed. The narcotics fueled group spread to every city in Italy and even into Europe. The mafia was allied with the Gambino and Genovese crime families of New York, the Asian triad gangs, and the Colombian cartels. Their power was limitless, and few dared challenge them. As the 1980's progressed, and thousands were killed, two prosecutors, Giovanni Falcone and Paulo Borsellino, took up the challenge.

Falcone and Borsellino were not just fighting against the mafia, they were fighting against a society where organized crime was a way of life. Many of their superiors did not want to rock the boat and constantly impeded the work of the two prosecutors. At the same time, the two men were under constant death threats, as the mafia sought to kill both them and their entire families. Even with these obstacles, Falcone and Borsellino managed to bring many mafia chieftains and soldiers to trial. Surprisingly, they were initially successful, sending thousands of them to prison. However, the wheels of corruption quickly turned, releasing many of the prisoners and destroying Falcones reputation. At the same time, the infamous boss of bosses, Toto Riina, consolidated the entire Sicilian organization by murdering anyone who stood in his way. Soon, the violence and political changes forced the government to make changes. However, the only real change came when both Falcone and Borsellino were tragically murdered. Then, the people rose up and demanded justice. Soon, most of the government had been thrown out, and thousands of mobsters found themselves in jail for life. It was too late for Falcone and Borsellino, but they triumphed in death.

Stille provides just an amazing amount of knowledge as he deftly narrates an amazing range of crime and politics. It really is a general history of Italy at the time, with many different mentions of Italian society, politics, and economics. The differences between Northern Italy and Southern Italy are explained, as is the maddening bureaucratic nightmare that is European socialism. Millions of taxpayer dollars disappeared into a black hole of corruption and incompetence, and the voters had little power to do anything about it. Stille provides a great history, and one of the best examples of personal bravery I have ever read.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing History
Review: Rarely has a non-fiction book riveted me this much. Excellent Cadavers is a story so amazing that it would seem to be the invention of a European social novelist extraordinaire. Shockingly, every word that journalist and writer Alexander Stille puts to paper is tragically true. It is the story of Italy, a beautiful and legendary part of post-war Western Europe. Home to the Vatican, of the Renaissance, and some of the most extraordinary artisans and writers in all of western history, Italy seemed relatively well suited to succeed after World War II. However, these dreams were quickly snuffed out by an organization that would use any means necessary to protect their vast international criminal empire, which brought in millions upon millions of dollars. This book tells the story of this group of murderous thugs that managed to corrupt an entire country, effectively creating a shadow government, which enabled them to profit from the hard working taxpaying citizens. It is also the story of two men who decided that it had gone far enough, and they, with the help of a precious few band of brave men, would cure the cancer that had afflicted their country and province for the better part of a century.

The group of course was Cosa Nostra, a shadowy group of professional criminals that formed a tightly knit family of crime. Their ranks were highly structured, with bosses, captains, and soldiers. Originating from the violent land of Sicily, La Cosa Nostra quickly took advantage of the turbulent world of Italian politics and the rising worldwide narcotics trade. Their access to narcotics gave them almost limitless wealth, which enabled them to bribe and corrupt whole swaths of the Italian government and the justice system. Judges, prosecutors, police chiefs, ministers, and even governors were not safe from the mafia's reach, as they would kill literally anyone to make sure everyone else followed orders. Soon, mafia wars sprung up, where hundreds upon hundreds of people would be killed. The narcotics fueled group spread to every city in Italy and even into Europe. The mafia was allied with the Gambino and Genovese crime families of New York, the Asian triad gangs, and the Colombian cartels. Their power was limitless, and few dared challenge them. As the 1980's progressed, and thousands were killed, two prosecutors, Giovanni Falcone and Paulo Borsellino, took up the challenge.

Falcone and Borsellino were not just fighting against the mafia, they were fighting against a society where organized crime was a way of life. Many of their superiors did not want to rock the boat and constantly impeded the work of the two prosecutors. At the same time, the two men were under constant death threats, as the mafia sought to kill both them and their entire families. Even with these obstacles, Falcone and Borsellino managed to bring many mafia chieftains and soldiers to trial. Surprisingly, they were initially successful, sending thousands of them to prison. However, the wheels of corruption quickly turned, releasing many of the prisoners and destroying Falcones reputation. At the same time, the infamous boss of bosses, Toto Riina, consolidated the entire Sicilian organization by murdering anyone who stood in his way. Soon, the violence and political changes forced the government to make changes. However, the only real change came when both Falcone and Borsellino were tragically murdered. Then, the people rose up and demanded justice. Soon, most of the government had been thrown out, and thousands of mobsters found themselves in jail for life. It was too late for Falcone and Borsellino, but they triumphed in death.

Stille provides just an amazing amount of knowledge as he deftly narrates an amazing range of crime and politics. It really is a general history of Italy at the time, with many different mentions of Italian society, politics, and economics. The differences between Northern Italy and Southern Italy are explained, as is the maddening bureaucratic nightmare that is European socialism. Millions of taxpayer dollars disappeared into a black hole of corruption and incompetence, and the voters had little power to do anything about it. Stille provides a great history, and one of the best examples of personal bravery I have ever read.

Rating:
Summary: excellent cadavers , excellent reading
Review: This book is great read. very informitive, If your interrest lies in the American Mafia then this is a great insight into the rest of the family. hard and cold and deadly "men of honor". you get to see them for what they really are. Personal terrorists. The true hero's being Giovanni Falcone, paolo Borsellino and the sicillian people.

Mr Stills makes it all easy to understand and feel the tenison that must swirl in the very air of Sicily. My admiration goes out to those involved in this strugle. and to Alexander Stille for recording it so well.