Dawn of a New Era
The Rise and Fall of an American Saga
The Mafia has long stood as a paradoxical pillar of American culture, its allure enduring beyond its 1970s heyday. Unlike bureaucratic fixtures like the DMV or TSA, the Mob commands a certain mystique among those it preys upon. Other sectors of organized crime—even lawmakers in Congress—pale in comparison, with a mere 13 percent public approval rate, starkly contrasted against the acclaim of iconic mob portrayals in Godfather films.
Empire’s Echo: A Mafia Chronicle
The spellbinding debut of Louis Ferrante’s Borgata Trilogy, Rise of Empire, shares a narrative structure akin to Coppola’s cinematic masterpieces and the rich historical tableau of John Julius Norwich’s work on the Byzantine Empire. It captures the rise, glory, and eventual decline of the Cosa Nostra, painting the Mafia’s story as a dark reflection of the American Dream.
A Wise Guy’s Wisdom
Louis Ferrante, a self-proclaimed “former mafia associate and heist connoisseur,” lends authenticity to his trilogy with firsthand knowledge. His refusal to turn informant landed him a significant prison sentence, which he spent absorbing the wisdom of historians like Cicero and Gibbon, shaping his outlook as the chronicler of the underworld.
Ferrante’s ambition renders his Borgata Trilogy profoundly unique – a series steeped in the Mafia’s legacy penned by someone who lived through its heyday. Imagine renowned historians suddenly embarking on a life of crime; Ferrante bridges both worlds, sharing a perspective unparalleled by conventional writers:
“They have never encountered an actual historian who has lived in the mafia’s world…I am them, and I am also a historian.”
Mob Wisdom in Modern Business
In his bestselling Mob Rules, Ferrante transposes Mafia strategies to the business world, garnering praise from associates of John Gotti and acknowledging how mob principles can drive legitimate success. His insights might have even been a game-changer for the likes of Hunter Biden.
The Ethos of Omertà
At the heart of the Mob is a code of conduct whose roots run deep into Sicilian history, influenced by Arab occupation. The Mafia’s signature tactics, its societal role, and even the term ”mafia” itself resonate with this storied past.
The Mafia’s Adaptation in America
The mob’s transplantation to American soil was necessitated by sociopolitical upheavals and immigration waves, curating a unique blend of Sicilian tradition and American opportunity. Amidst discrimination, Sicilian mobsters like Joseph Provenzano and Charles Matranga wielded power and influence, notably in early hotspots like New Orleans.
Inter-borgata Conflicts and New Alliances
Battles for dominance, like the one that erupted in New Orleans, underscored the volatile nature of Mafia power struggles. Historical episodes like these showcased the somber reality beneath the Mafia’s romanticized veneer. Ferrante’s narrative is punctuated by watershed moments—bloody conflicts, strategic partnerships, and the ironic melding of diverse immigrant experiences that would thrust the Mafia to the top of the American crime hierarchy.
The Evolution of Organized Crime
Prohibition was an era that inadvertently sculpted the fragmented underworld into a well-oiled machine of organized crime. The transformation from ragtag gangs to sophisticated syndicates was hastened as mobsters like Lansky and Luciano morphed basic automobiles into smuggling contraptions and united a sprawling national network for illicit trade.
Birth of the Mob Syndicate
During Prohibition, crime reached a level of organization that was inevitable, but perhaps accelerated by the era’s constraints. It was a time when Lansky’s Model Ts became moving vaults for contraband and Luciano’s far-reaching connections paved the way for a booming underworld enterprise. As the hopeful end of Prohibition neared, they convened at the President Hotel in Atlantic City in 1929, humorously likened by Ferrante to an odd blend of professionals, to strategize their next lucrative venture: gambling.
The Atlantic City Conference: A Turning Point
This pivotal meet-up, attended by a multicultural mix of criminal masterminds, decided the fate of many vices yet to come. They discussed everything from territorial divides to the integration of slot machines and profit-sharing strategies, signaling the onset of a new era in organized crime.
Laying Foundations in a New World
In this new landscape, the criminal empire found its footing as stability ensued. Luciano reigned over his enterprise with a blend of tradition and innovation, honoring the old ways while forging new paths in both his personal and criminal lives.
Political Parley and Progress
Deals with politicians like Senator Huey Long and investment in burgeoning industries like gambling fashioned the mob into a prevailing force in several sectors of American life. The ingenuity and assertiveness of figures like Lepke Buchalter reinforced their grip on industries across the board.
Wartime Alliances and Accords
The Second World War catalyzed unprecedented cooperation between government and mob, with crises often becoming opportunities. A curious turn of events led to a secret collaboration safeguarding New York’s docks, an alliance Ferrante describes as akin to a “great white shark in a pinstripe suit” due to its predatory efficacy.
The Flamingo and Bugsy Siegel: A Cautionary Tale
The assassination of Bugsy Siegel serves as a stark reminder of the ruthless efficiency of the mob. Portrayed by Ferrante with chilling clarity, his demise was more of an executive decision than a mere act of violence within the ranks.
The FBI and the Mob: A Complicated Dance
The Mafia’s infiltration of everyday American life was funded by their core business ventures but facilitated by a complex network of corruption and reluctance from law enforcement, led by J. Edgar Hoover. Political connections too complex to untangle immediately prevented fast action against the burgeoning syndicates.
Corruption and Controversy
Ferrante alludes to the compromising positions of key political figures within the mob’s sphere of influence, suggesting even the nation’s leaders were not immune to the Mafia’s reach.
The Downfall of a Golden Age
These alliances and silences unraveled with RFK’s “relentless crusade” against mob activity. The story, closing with JFK’s presidency, leaves the promising empire of organized crime dangling precariously by a thread, turning the predators into potential prey.
Borgata: Rise of Empire: A History of the American Mafia
by Louis Ferrante
Pegasus, 400 pp., $29.95
Dominic Green is a Wall Street Journal contributor and a fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
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