Into the Heart of the Mafia A Journey Through the Italian South

In this investigation into the criminal underworld of the cities and villages of the Italian South, David Lane provides an unrivaled expose of the operations of the Mafia todayFrom Naples, home of Mafia-controlled mozzarella and toxic waste, through the no less rotten Calabria, to Sicily, cradle of Cosa Nostra, the hold of the Mafia on Southern Italy is as strong as ever. Following a multi-decade career as a journalist in Italy, David Lane uses his extensive contacts into the world of organized crime to demonstrate how globalization has transformed the Mafia into more than simply a global phenomenon. In painful detail,Into the Heart of the Mafiadescribes the unceasing mafia pressure endured by priests and politicians, businessmen, trade unionists, and ordinary citizens, and the risks undertaken by the policemen, judges, and politicians who fight to weaken the Mafia's influence. A travelogue with the most deadly of implications,Into the Heart of the Mafiastands as a guide like no other into the darkest side of Italy.

David Lane has written for The Guardian and the Financial Times, and since 1994 has been The Economist's business and finance correspondent for Italy. His last book was the highly regarded Berlusconi's Shadow (2004). He has lived in Rome since 1972.