John Dickie (1) (1963–)

Det vilar ett mystiskt skimmer över den sicilianska maffian. Historien tar sin början i citronlundarna utanför Palermo i början av 1860-talet, strax efter Italiens enande. Maffian kom under åren att växa sig allt starkare men minskade i betydelse under Mussolinis fascistvälde, då den skoningslöst förföljdes. Efter andra världskrigets slut uppstod den på nytt och har sedan blivit allt starkare.Cosa Nostra blev en maktfaktor i politiken inte bara på Sicilien utan i hela Italien. Detta ledde bland annat till rättegången 1995 mot den sjufaldige premiärministern Giulio Andreotti, som anklagades för samröre med den organiserade brottsligheten.Med stöd av ingående samtal med människor på båda sidor om lagens råmärken och på grundval av egen forskning skildrar John Dickie maffians historia. Han visar med all önskvärd tydlighet att det är fråga om kallblodiga mördare som har infiltrerat alla nivåer av det italienska samhället.”Cosa Nostra är oavlåtligt intressant inte minst för att den visar hur djupt maffian har infiltrerat det italienska samhället. Den är spännande som en god politisk thriller… (más)

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is a throughly researched book. It chronicles the creation, development, and legacy of Freemasons within the political, social, economical, and historical context of the last centuries. The book allows reader to step into the saga of this group, offering fascinating insights, and a compelling narrative. John Dickie draws the reader in by bringing into the narrative famous freemasons that have shaped our world today as much as they have shaped the brotherhood.… (más)

The subtitle of this book suggests we will learn how Freemasonry has impacted on our society today. Actually the book is more about how various governments, dictators, tyrannies and revolutionaries have used Freemasons as targets of hatred and abuse in order to further their own agendas.

The first part of the book describes the origins of Freemasonry in 18th century London, its spread to Scotland, Europe and the wider world, and something of the rituals and ceremonies employed. Like all secret societies, Freemasonry is mostly about improving self-worth through aggrandising ceremonies and mutual back-scratching. Here, the Craft comes across as a men-only mixture of a Hogwarts Appreciation Society and the WI.

As we move forwards in history the story becomes much darker, although, as Dickie shows, Freemasons have always been persecuted for their supposed powers. Power always needs a place to redirect popular opprobrium away from itself and towards a group that cannot fight back. Sometimes this is the Jews, sometimes it is Freemasonry, and sometimes it is both.

The book ends with a detailed indictment of the corruption of Freemasonry in Italy by the mafia and other criminal gangs and by self-serving elements of government.… (más)