The Two Mafias - (Italian and Italian American Studies) by Salvatore Lupo (Hardcover)

About the Book

Translation of the author's Quando la mafia trovao l'America.

Book Synopsis

A realistic understanding of the mafia must avoid depictions both of a monolithic organization and of localized, isolated groups. Here, renowned historian Salvatore Lupo analyzes the mafia as a network of varied relationships and institutions, the result of a complex cultural and social encounter that was shaped by multiple, diverse environments.

Review Quotes

"Salvatore Lupo's The Two Mafias is an important contribution to an emerging body of literature that seeks to provide a sober, comprehensive analysis of the transatlantic ramifications of the Sicilian Mafia. ... The Two Mafias is a meticulous analysis of the historical record on the relationship between American and Sicilian mafiosi, and it is a profound critique of the academic debate of the past seven decades on the Mafia in the United States." (Klaus von Lampe, Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Books, clcjbooks.rutgers.edu, July, 2017)

"Refreshingly well written and insightful in their approach, both as revealing histories and as analyses of how and why Italian organized crime has developed and changed over time and across locations. ... The Two Mafias ... by developing new evidence and fresh arguments, are effective guides for taking another look at a distinctive chapter of Italian and Italian American history and for understanding the persistence of organized criminal networks around the world." (Jay S. Albanese, Italian American Review, Vol. 7 (2), 2017)

About the Author

Salvatore Lupo is Professor of Contemporary History at the University of Palermo, Italy. The foremost and most frequently cited authority on the history of Sicilian mafia, he has published over 20 books and is a co-founder of the journal Meridiana.