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

by Alexander Stille

Book Overview

In 1992 Italy was convulsed by two brazen Mafia assassinations of high-ranking officials. The latest "excellent cadavers" were Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, the Sicilian magistrates who had been the Cosa Nostra's most implacable enemies. Yet in the aftermath of the murders, hundreds of "men of honor" were arrested and the government that ad protected them for nearly half a century was at last driven from office. This is the story that Stille...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0679768637
• ISBN13: 9780679768630
• Release Date: August 1996
• Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
• Length: 480 Pages
• Weight: 0.93 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.2" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

couldn't put it down

The story of the fight against the Cosa Nostra in Siciliy. The story gravitates around two investigating magistrates, Falcone and Borsellino, who were at the forefront of this seemingly never-ending fight. It' a useful narrative device, given that most people aren't familiar with the many names involved in the story (mafiosi and politicians alike). The story gives a brief history of the mafia, but it focuses on the 1980s and early 1990s; it tells of the greatest campaigns against the Mafia, and the way in which the Mafia, with the help of its political allies (Socialists, Christian Democrats, etc.) fought back. I had a difficult time remembering all the names but the author made sure a spectacular memory was not necessary in order to follow and get involved in the story. For anyone who wishes to read something about Italy that sort of complements it, I recommend The Dark Heart of Italy. In the end, this book left a sense of foreboding in me. It seems that Italy, a country that I like, a beautiful place, is so corrupt, so enmeshed in organized crime, that it looks un-redeemable. That is a sad feeling, given those who, like Falcone and Borsellino, have paid the highest price.

Brutal criminals pursued by inspirational men

This book is an essential read for those with a general interest in modern day Europe, especially Italy, and most emphatically for Sicilian-Americans...like me. Forget those popularized and sometimes romanticized accounts of the mafia often encountered in the popular media. This book reveals in a clear, detailed and non-emotional but yet spell-binding style the ruthless, murderous and often barbaric ways of the real mafiosi...and the politicians and judges who protected them. The diligence, perseverance and courage of Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino in pursuing these ruthless criminals, with the certain knowledge of their own subsequent murder, is both chilling and awe-inspiring. One cannot offer too much praise for these men and the many other courageous Sicilians who also were murdered in the their efforts to bring justice to Sicily. The book ends in 1994 with notes of caution and fear as it introduces us to the political rise of Silvio Berlusconi. I look forward with great anticipation to the release of the author Alexender Stille's new book, due in June 2006, "The Sack of Rome...by Silvio Berlusconi".

Amazing History

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.

A gripping true story

This is a complex story but Alexander Stille does a wonderful job of keeping the various strands comprehensible to the reader. Even though you know the end of the story from the beginning, it still reads like a detective novel - I couldn't put it down! The courage and conviction of Falcone and Borsellino are impressive, and the story of how they finally began to find ways to prosecute the Mafia in Sicily is fascinating. Highly recommended to anyone with an interest in Sicily or in current Italian society.

two truly inspirational men

this book centres on the italian government's long standing reluctance to actively pursue the mafia. with corruption entrenched in the political circles, the magistrature was for many years hamstrung. enter the crusading giovanni falcone and paulo borsellino, two magistrates who dared to target the mafia, with huge success. these two men were relentless in their endeavours, against overwhelming pressure from mafia-fed politicians. their ability to cultivate mafia informers resulting in the first maxi-trials demonstrated that the mafia was not untouchable. ultimately their devotion to duty resulted in their murder by the mafia. this book is especially well written covering all aspects of the lives of both men and is a must for mafia readers. you won't be able to put it down!!!