Under the Clock

by William Balsamo

This is the real story of the beginnings of the Mafia in the United States. It tells for the first time what actually happened as the control of the rackets - extortion, protection, carting and hauling, the cement industry, beer and liquor distributorships - and of the New York waterfront was wrested away from the Irish racketeers by the gang of Italian immigrants who called themselves."The Black Hand" and were under the total domination of Battista Balsamo, the original "Godfather".

He appeared an honorable, reasonable, and just man. He was the vicious head of the Mob.

Filled with rare photographs and documents, peopled with an extraordinary gallery of men and women of the infamous underground, written on ten years of solid research, Under the Clock recounts in painful detail the monumental gangland war that raged for five bloody years,punctuated by poison,knives, and guns, between the Irish "White Hand" and the Italian "Black Hand.". Here is the true story of the resultant Mafia empire - including its emperor, Al Capone - which was ultimately penetrated by the you, dedicated, ambitious New York D.A. - Tom Dewey.

Genres: True Crime, History, Nonfiction

200 pages, Hardcover

First published December 10, 1988

Reviews

[Eamon Loingsigh · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is quite possibly the most inaccurate and purposefully manipulated book I have ever read. This, what is it a docu-drama? Ugh, what a mess. A reader looking for factual information should only use this book to stand on in order to reach Luc Sante's work or Herbert Asbury's. Whole scenes and entire groups of characters and their monikers are fraudulently and fictionally created. Take it from someone who studied every detail of the White Hand Gang that supposedly went to "war" with the mafia and lost... This is utterly fictional dressed up as a historical documentation. The Italians and Irish never fought the war some people have portrayed for their own ends. Just disn't happen. Oh and the "Godfather" of all the Brooklyn and Manhattan Italian gangsters? His name also happens to be Balsamo. Fancy that. Eamon Loingsigh

[Walt · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read that provides a good overview of organized crime in America, and New York in particular.

[Ravali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reads like a novel. Am not sure if all the facts are checked out as it has no reliable glossary

[Dana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting story. Terrible, terrible writing.