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Capo
THE FIRST DON
Sicily, 1879: After successfully smuggling a severed human ear past the police, Silvio Randazzo completes his dangerous first rite of passage--from peasant boy to Mafia soldier. The ear is a chilling ransom demand from Antonino Greco, Italy's most famous and feared Mafioso. But it is not until Silvio makes his first vendetta killing that he truly "makes his bones" as a worthy member of the society that values honor above all . . . and rewards betrayal with death.
New Orleans, 1880: By exterminating the rivals of Angelo Priola, the most powerful gangster in America's most decadent city, the newly arrived Silvio makes his mark in the fledgling underworld of his new homeland. As the forces of the law close in on the notorious Greco, and dangerous new players vie for Priola's territory, the cunning, ruthless, and ever more ambitious Silvio watches the path made clear for his ascension to the throne of Capo--boss of bosses. . . .
Based on fact, here is a stunning novel of the criminal empire that brought the mob to America, and the man who oversaw its bloody birth. . . .
Sicily, 1879: After successfully smuggling a severed human ear past the police, Silvio Randazzo completes his dangerous first rite of passage--from peasant boy to Mafia soldier. The ear is a chilling ransom demand from Antonino Greco, Italy's most famous and feared Mafioso. But it is not until Silvio makes his first vendetta killing that he truly "makes his bones" as a worthy member of the society that values honor above all . . . and rewards betrayal with death.
New Orleans, 1880: By exterminating the rivals of Angelo Priola, the most powerful gangster in America's most decadent city, the newly arrived Silvio makes his mark in the fledgling underworld of his new homeland. As the forces of the law close in on the notorious Greco, and dangerous new players vie for Priola's territory, the cunning, ruthless, and ever more ambitious Silvio watches the path made clear for his ascension to the throne of Capo--boss of bosses. . . .
Based on fact, here is a stunning novel of the criminal empire that brought the mob to America, and the man who oversaw its bloody birth. . . .
464 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
82 people are currently reading
154 people want to read
About the author
Peter Watson
116 books329 followersPeter Watson was educated at the universities of Durham, London and Rome, and was awarded scholarships in Italy and the United States.
After a stint as Deputy Editor of New Society magazine, he was for four years part of the Sunday Times ‘Insight’ team of investigative journalists. He wrote the daily Diary column of the London Times before becoming that paper’s New York correspondent. He returned to London to write a column about the art world for the Observer and then at The Sunday Times.
He has published three exposes in the world of art and antiquities and from 1997 to 2007 was a Research Associate at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research at the University of Cambridge. He has published twelve books of non-fiction and seven novels, some under the pen name of Mackenzie Ford. He lives in London where his interests include theatre, opera and fishing.
Awards, Etc.
Psychology Prize
Durham University, 1961
Italian Government Music Scholarship
Rome University, 1965
United States Government Bursary “for future world leaders”
To study the psychiatric profession and its links to the administration of justice
Books of the Year
Psychology Today Magazine, 1978, for War on the Mind
Daily Mail, 1990, for Wisdom and Strength
Independent on Sunday, for A Terrible Beauty, 2000
Times Literary Supplement, for Ideas, 2005
Time Magazine, for The Medici Conspiracy, 2006
Queen’s Pardon
Copy from Patrick Meehan after I had written a series of articles which brought about his release from prison after he had been wrongly convicted of murder, 1976.
Gold Dagger – Crime Writers’ Association of Great Britain
For The Caravaggio Conspiracy, 1983
Beacon Award – SAFE Award – Saving Antiquities for Everyone
For The Medici Conspiracy, 2006
US Library Association
The Great Divide.
Emmy Nomination
‘The Caravaggio Conspiracy, 1984.
Best sellers
The Caravaggio Conspiracy
Crusade
Landscape of Lies
Sotheby’s: The Inside Story
Nureyev
Lectures
Peter Watson has lectured at the following venues:
Universities
Cambridge
Berkeley
London
UCLA
Birmingham
Georgia
Georgia
Chicago
Birmingham
Santiago de Chile
York
Madrid
Harvard
Tufts
Military Bases
Fort Bragg
Private Institutions in
Cleveland
Berlin
Chicago
Belfast
Los Angeles
New York
Washington
Boston
Palm Beach
Other venues
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum, Copenhagen
Royal Society of Arts
Rugby School
Royal Library, Copenhagen
Festivals
Edinburgh
Oxford
Dartington
York
After a stint as Deputy Editor of New Society magazine, he was for four years part of the Sunday Times ‘Insight’ team of investigative journalists. He wrote the daily Diary column of the London Times before becoming that paper’s New York correspondent. He returned to London to write a column about the art world for the Observer and then at The Sunday Times.
He has published three exposes in the world of art and antiquities and from 1997 to 2007 was a Research Associate at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research at the University of Cambridge. He has published twelve books of non-fiction and seven novels, some under the pen name of Mackenzie Ford. He lives in London where his interests include theatre, opera and fishing.
Awards, Etc.
Psychology Prize
Durham University, 1961
Italian Government Music Scholarship
Rome University, 1965
United States Government Bursary “for future world leaders”
To study the psychiatric profession and its links to the administration of justice
Books of the Year
Psychology Today Magazine, 1978, for War on the Mind
Daily Mail, 1990, for Wisdom and Strength
Independent on Sunday, for A Terrible Beauty, 2000
Times Literary Supplement, for Ideas, 2005
Time Magazine, for The Medici Conspiracy, 2006
Queen’s Pardon
Copy from Patrick Meehan after I had written a series of articles which brought about his release from prison after he had been wrongly convicted of murder, 1976.
Gold Dagger – Crime Writers’ Association of Great Britain
For The Caravaggio Conspiracy, 1983
Beacon Award – SAFE Award – Saving Antiquities for Everyone
For The Medici Conspiracy, 2006
US Library Association
The Great Divide.
Emmy Nomination
‘The Caravaggio Conspiracy, 1984.
Best sellers
The Caravaggio Conspiracy
Crusade
Landscape of Lies
Sotheby’s: The Inside Story
Nureyev
Lectures
Peter Watson has lectured at the following venues:
Universities
Cambridge
Berkeley
London
UCLA
Birmingham
Georgia
Georgia
Chicago
Birmingham
Santiago de Chile
York
Madrid
Harvard
Tufts
Military Bases
Fort Bragg
Private Institutions in
Cleveland
Berlin
Chicago
Belfast
Los Angeles
New York
Washington
Boston
Palm Beach
Other venues
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum, Copenhagen
Royal Society of Arts
Rugby School
Royal Library, Copenhagen
Festivals
Edinburgh
Oxford
Dartington
York
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
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January 22, 2018I was looking forward to reading this book. I usually enjoy this kind of stories, and the fact that it is based on true events made it seem more interesting.
Unfortunately i couldn't go through it. I read more than a third of it but i couldn' read more. I did not like the characters this story is about. I know gangster's worlds are full of cruelty and all, but this one seemed not convincing. I don't know how to explain my feelings while reading it. For a story about Mafiosi, it was horribly slow paced and at times boring.
Just reading it began to feel like a heavy task to accomplish and i don't want to feel this way. I usually try to finish all the books i choose to read, but there are always exceptions.
I got this books via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
Unfortunately i couldn't go through it. I read more than a third of it but i couldn' read more. I did not like the characters this story is about. I know gangster's worlds are full of cruelty and all, but this one seemed not convincing. I don't know how to explain my feelings while reading it. For a story about Mafiosi, it was horribly slow paced and at times boring.
Just reading it began to feel like a heavy task to accomplish and i don't want to feel this way. I usually try to finish all the books i choose to read, but there are always exceptions.
I got this books via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
July 28, 2009
Really good Mafia epic, charting the rise of the Mafia from it's Scilly origins at the end of the 18th century. Excellent depiction of New Orleans during this period also. What makes this piece of fiction all the more intersting is the fact that it's based on a true story - great couple of pages at the end detailing the true account.
As good as some of the work done by Mario Puzo. Well recommended. 4.5 stars.
As good as some of the work done by Mario Puzo. Well recommended. 4.5 stars.
April 4, 2008
Cannot remember plot, characters or what happened but recall it was one of the best crime books I ever read...
December 19, 2017
A very good story about the raise of the mafia in New Orleans. Follows two men from Sicily who have to leave there and then there raise through the ranks in America. Along the way he has weaved true accounts into this story that for me made it an enjoyable read. Though I had read about them separately it was a nice piece of writing putting the stories together. When you get to the end of the book the author gives you the actual true accounts and you will see that other than for some names, and a few other parts to make the story all of the events really happened. The problem is because they took place in New Orleans they are not talked about. Overall for me I thought this to be a very good book and worth the time to read. I got this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
September 2, 2019
Fascinating!
Although this is a novel, much of it is fact based and aligns with historical events. I loved the way this was written, parallel stories with characters having a foot in each story, leaving the reader eager to find out what would happen. Nicely done!
Although this is a novel, much of it is fact based and aligns with historical events. I loved the way this was written, parallel stories with characters having a foot in each story, leaving the reader eager to find out what would happen. Nicely done!
May 24, 2022
not for me
I found this book boring with weak and largely annoying female characters. Some of the action was entertaining, but I really struggled to appreciate the good parts when the majority of the book was so slow and annoying.
I found this book boring with weak and largely annoying female characters. Some of the action was entertaining, but I really struggled to appreciate the good parts when the majority of the book was so slow and annoying.
January 8, 2018
Pulls you in
Great character development and terrific description of Sicily. You can feel the heat as well as smell the almonds and olives, couldn't put it down!
Great character development and terrific description of Sicily. You can feel the heat as well as smell the almonds and olives, couldn't put it down!
July 10, 2018
Worked through this thinking it would keep getting better. It didn't.
June 6, 2011
If you like Puzo, and I do like his books, you will enjoy this historical novel based on some archived journals from the Pinkerton Detective Agency found in the British Archives. I found the novel very entertaining and the early development of the Mafia as orginating in New Orleans for the USA makes a lot of sense. When I was last in New Orleans I did locate some of the plaques that celebrated some of the early Italians.
Good book!
Good book!
January 15, 2018
Copy courtesy of NetGalley
Awesome book - the story hooked me and slowly reeled me in from the start. Maybe it's because the Mafia is interesting to me - definitely great writing and wonderfully developed characters - that I enjoyed this and gobble-read it, but I look forward to more from this author!
Awesome book - the story hooked me and slowly reeled me in from the start. Maybe it's because the Mafia is interesting to me - definitely great writing and wonderfully developed characters - that I enjoyed this and gobble-read it, but I look forward to more from this author!
July 16, 2013
I read it a few years back. I bought it thinking it would be great, but it turned out otherwise, at least for me.
November 24, 2014
I read this book when it was first published - great read especially if you like mafia books. I would love to have seen this made into a movie. Its got to up there with the best of Puzo's books.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews