Non-Fiction Book Reviews

Book Review: Mafia: the Glamour of Crime

By Sandy Amazeen Oct 24, 2011, 0:58 GMT

Mafia.  Gangsters.  Jazz clubs, hot women, beautiful tailor-made suits, real men.  Glitter and glamour.  In picturing the mafia, we can\'t ignore the appealing images.  Images we picked up in movies and on television, advertising campaigns and posters.  Their attraction is well illustrated in Ray Liotta\'s first words in Goodfellas:

Mafia. Gangsters. Jazz clubs, hot women, beautiful tailor-made suits, real men. Glitter and glamour. In picturing the mafia, we can\'t ignore the appealing images. Images we picked up in movies and on television, advertising campaigns and posters. Their attraction is well illustrated in Ray Liotta\'s first words in Goodfellas: "As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster". ...more

The glitter, glamour and harsh violence of the real Mafia life is expertly blended with Hollywood’s many renditions in this outstanding collection of photographs augmented by interesting commentary. From the clever, bullet hole riddled cover to the play on words as illustrated by the chapter titled “Kosher Nostra”, this book presented in three languages is a treat. Starting with an overview of the Mafia in America as seen through the lens juxtaposed with the reality, the book then examines gangster stereotypes, Hollywood’s Mafia and Mafia organizations throughout the world along with a gangster talk glossary. Although the largely secret world of real life Mafia members exists around the globe, the image most people have of it derives from films and television thus the bulk of the photos presented in this volume come from those sources. This coffee table book would be equally enjoyed by film fans and mobster buffs.

 



COMMENT

blog comments powered by Disqus

Latest Headlines in Non-Fiction Book

Older Talkback

Follow Us

Follow M&C on Pinterest

Search

Custom Search

Mafia: The glamour of crime

Mafia. Gangsters. Jazz clubs, hot women, beautiful tailor-made suits, real men. Glitter and glamour. In picturing the mafia, we can't ignore the appealing images. Images ...more

  • US Release: 2011-09-15
  • UK Release:

Also Check Out

Anna Kendrick's nightclub lie

Anna Kendricks nightclub lie
'Twilight Saga' star Anna Kendrick used to pretend she was best friends with actress Ashley Olsen' to get into Los Angeles nightclubs. ... more

Janet Jackson wants Paris to enjoy childhood

Janet Jackson wants Paris to enjoy childhood
Janet Jackson doesn't want her niece Paris to begin her career now because she wants the 14 year old to enjoy her teen years. ... more

Nicole Kidman sent sexy texts to director

Nicole Kidman sent sexy texts to director
Nicole Kidman landed her role in 'Paperboy' after sending 'provocative' text messages to director Lee Daniels. ... more

Kelly Osbourne takes up golf

Kelly Osbourne takes up golf
Kelly Osbourne has a new hobby - she has taken up golf. ... more

Katy Perry's revealing film

Katy Perrys revealing film
Katy Perry is more 'revealing' than she's ever been in her 3D concert film 'Part Of Me' and joked the hardest part was being filmed without make-up. ... more

Keira Knightley gets engaged

Keira Knightley gets engaged
Keira Knightley is to marry her musician boyfriend James Righton, keyboard player with Klaxons. ... more

Jada Pinkett Smith wants daughter to speak Chinese

Jada Pinkett Smith wants daughter to speak Chinese
Jada Pinkett Smith wants her daughter, Willow, to master several languages, including Mandarin Chinese. ... more

Tom Hardy to star in musical

Tom Hardy to star in musical
Tom Hardy is set to swap movies for musicals by starring in a new stage production called 'Harold's Harem'. ... more

Nicole Richie: 'I love Australia'

Nicole Richie: I love Australia
Nicole Richie loves spending time in Australia and is working out how she can go to Sydney more often. ... more

Demi Lovato's mother thinks Simon's good looking

Demi Lovatos mother thinks Simons good looking
Demi Lovato's mother Dianna thinks Simon Cowell is 'even better looking' in person after her daughter made her debut as a judge on 'The X Factor' USA yesterday (24.05.12). ... more