Italian crime fiction in the era of the anti-mafia movement / William Farina.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Farina, William, 1955- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Detective and mystery stories, Italian--History and criticism.

Detective and mystery stories, Italian.

Mafia in literature.

Crime in literature.

Authors, Italian--Biography.

Authors, Italian.

Genre:

Biographies.

Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Physical Description:

viii, 226 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, North Carolina : McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, [2020]

Summary:

"Over the last three decades, Italian crime fiction has demonstrated a trend toward a much higher level of realism and complexity. The origins of the New Italian Epic, as it has been coined by some of its proponents, can be found in the widespread backlash against the Mafia-sponsored murders of Sicilian magistrates which culminated with the assassinations of Judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino in 1992. Though beginning in the Italian language, this prolific, popular movement has more recently found its way into the English language and hence it has found a much wider international audience. Following a brief, yet detailed, history of the cultural and economic development of Sicily, this book provides a multilayered look into the evolution of the New Italian Epic genre. The works of ten prominent contemporary writers, including Andrea Camilleri, Michael Dibdin, Elena Ferrante, and Massimo Carlotto, are examined against the backdrop of various historical periods. This "past is prologue" approach to contemporary crime fiction provides context for the creation of these recent novels and enhances understanding of the complex moral ambiguity that is characteristic of anti-mafia Italian crime fiction"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Ancient origins

Roberto Saviano (b. 1979)

Norman-Arab feudal code

Wu Ming (b. 1970?)

Spanish black legend

Gianrico Carofiglio (b. 1961)

Risorgimento roots

Maurizio De Giovanni (b. 1958)

Little hell

Massimo Carlotto (b. 1956)

Saint Valentine's Day massacre

Giancarlo De Cataldo (b. 1956)

Unlikely allies

Elena Ferrante (b. 1953?)

Cosa Nostra resurgence

Michele Giuttari (b. 1950)

Falcone and Borsellino

Michael Dibdin (1947-2007)

Sicilian Backlash

Andrea Camilleri (1925-2019).

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781476677354

1476677352

OCLC:

1127951506