Our in-depth Gomorrah book review

Our in-depth Gomorrah book review

Gomorrah, Roberto Saviano’s eye-opening exposé about his infiltration of the Sicilian mafia crime network, pulls no punches. Combining investigative work, news reports, court transcripts, and witness insights, Roberto Saviano depicts a harrowing picture of life in Naples under the violent rule of the Camorra crime syndicate.

Soon after the immediate success of the book, the author received death threats. The Camorra, to this day, strives to operate in the background. But the revelations about the violent international empire of Naples’ organized crime system exposed the group and fundamentally changed the author’s life.

Now under constant police protection, Salviano wrote in an article for The Guardian about his longing for the life he once led as a young man before the publication of Gomorrah. This book review provides insight into the true crime bestseller and the author behind it.

What is Gomorrah about?

While the author, who studied philosophy at the University of Naples Federico II before embarking on a journalism career, has fictionalized the story to a degree, there is no doubt about the brutality of the mafia rule in Campania.

From cold-blooded murders and dire conditions in their sweatshops, illegal drugs, high fashion, compromised construction sites, and toxic waste disposal, to Chinese migrants arriving dead at the Port of Naples, Gomorrah omits nothing.

The Godfather movies pale in significance when pitched against the sobering accounts in Gomorrah. Set in southern Italy, the book follows the journey of Ciro within the system. The story unfolds in Naples’ Secondigliano district, notorious for brutal mafia feuds, including the war between the DiLauro clan and secessionists, a breakaway faction.

Much of the book portrays the internal power struggles of the main characters and Camorristas, including Genny Savastano, Ciro di Marzio, Zecchinetta, Joaquin Rollero, Immacolata Savastano, and Salvatore Conte. Allies turn into foes, and even friends and family members are likely murder targets.

The mafia’s drug and human trafficking, the dumping of toxic waste, and the enslavement of Chinese migrants steep not only southern Italy but the entire nation in bloodshed and violence. The reach of the crime network appears limitless, with the judiciary and government agencies not only powerless but also complicit. Even Hollywood plays its part when a sweatshop tailor discovers Angelina Jolie is wearing a suit he sewed under duress.

Since its publication and translation into English by Virginia Jewiss, the book has sold over four million copies and is available in all good bookshops and on Amazon in different formats.

Gomorrah—Our book review

Gomorrah: A Personal Journey Into the Violent International Empire of Naples’ Organized Crime System is one of the best true crime accounts and an essential book in the fight against organized crime and the Neapolitan mafia.

From rave Kirkus reviews and The New York Times calling it “a literary sensation” to the Time review magazine describing the Gomorrah movie as “the bleakest, least sentimental study of the Mafia in Italian or American film history,” critics agree that Roberto Saviano’s book is groundbreaking.

If you are thinking of reading it, prepare for bloodshed, betrayal, and brutality, the likes of which you may not have seen before. Gomorrah is true crime at its best with a poetic twist as the author manages to convey a world no one wants, yet everyone knows, exists.

Unlike the screen version, the book dishes out raw violence, leaving readers with a deep sense of horror. In fact, in some ways, the book reads like a report while at the same time delivering fiction that does not reduce its quality. No other book has managed to uncover the global reach and greed of the Neapolitan mafia in quite as compelling a manner.

The English translation is rocky in some parts. This is perhaps because some of the Neapolitan colloquialisms have no equivalent words in other languages. But Gomorrah is still a must-read for true crime fans.

Find crime novels on Speechify Audiobooks

You can dive into a vast selection of true crime novels in audiobook format on Speechify. The audiobook provider allows you to download some of the world’s best books on any device in English as well as 13 other languages. The first book is available free of charge after signing up.

Another book available that examines crime in Italy includes Douglas Preston’s The Monsters of Florence. Meanwhile, John E. Douglas delivers gripping insight into the FBI’s investigative work in Obsession. For a look into U.S. police operations, check out Michael Connelly’s Crime Beat. And for more sleepless nights, make sure to download Stephen G. Michaud’s Ted Bundy—Conversations with a Killer.

FAQ

Is Gomorrah based on a true story?

Gomorrah is a sobering exposé of life under Neapolitan mafia rule. While fictionalized, Roberto Salviano combined court transcripts, witness accounts, and undercover work to write the book.

What is the target audience for the book Gomorrah?

Anyone interested in true crime will enjoy Gomorrah, as will those who want real-life insight into organized crime.

Who is the main character in Gomorrah?

The book’s main character is Ciro Di Marzio. Unlike many mafia books, it focuses on low-level Camorras rather than its leadership.

When was Gomorrah published?

Mondadori published the New York Times bestseller in 2006 before Picador printed the English translation through Macmillian in the U.K. one year later.

Who is Gomorrah based on?

The book portrays the Sicilian Camorra crime syndicate, with the names of the protagonists remaining largely unchanged from real life.

What genre is Gomorrah?

Roberto Salivano’s book belongs to the true crime genre.

Cliff Weitzman

Cliff Weitzman

Cliff Weitzman is a dyslexia advocate and the CEO and founder of Speechify, the #1 text-to-speech app in the world, totaling over 100,000 5-star reviews and ranking first place in the App Store for the News & Magazines category. In 2017, Weitzman was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list for his work making the internet more accessible to people with learning disabilities. Cliff Weitzman has been featured in EdSurge, Inc., PC Mag, Entrepreneur, Mashable, among other leading outlets.

Dyslexia & Accessibility Advocate, CEO/Founder of Speechify Dyslexia & Accessibility Advocate, CEO/Founder of Speechify

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