South of mainland Italy lies the island of Sicily, home to an ancient culture that-with its stark landscapes, glorious coastlines, and extraordinary treasure troves of art and archeology-has seduced travelers for centuries. But, at the heart of the island's rare beauty is a network of violence and corruption that reaches into every corner of Sicilian life: Cosa Nostra, the Mafia. Peter Robb lived in southern Italy for over fourteen years and recounts its sensuous pleasures, its literature, politics, art, and crimes.
