
The First Family
Terror, Extortion, Revenge, Murder, and the Birth of the American Mafia
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Narrated by:
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Lloyd James
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By:
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Mike Dash
About this listen
Born into a life of poverty in rural Sicily, Morello became an American nightmare, pioneering the bizarre initiation rituals, imaginative protection rackets, influential underworld reigns, and Mafia wars later popularized by countless books, television shows, and movies.
In The First Family, Mike Dash tells the little known story of the Morello family. He follows the birth of the Mafia in America from the 1890s to the 1920s, from the wharves of New Orleans - where Morello himself disembarked in the United States - to the streets of Little Italy. Using previously untapped secret service archives, prison records, and interviews with surviving family members, Dash brings to life the remarkable villains and unusual heroes of the Mafia's early years, from the colorful members of the Morello family to Joseph Petrosino, an Italian cop with a thick Naples accent, and William Flynn, a dogged U.S. Secret Service agent, who banded together to bring down Morello.
More than just a pulse-quickening Mafia narrative, The First Family is the first authoritative account of a particularly crucial period in American history, in which the modern American underworld was born.
©2009 Michael Dash (P)2009 TantorListeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
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- Denver_luvn
- 03-19-23
Excellent true story
Mike Dash's research into this piece of American history is staggering. Well written and the narrator is spectacular as well. Definitely would recommend!
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- SPQR
- 08-30-16
Very well written. great research!
This was an excellent book. It was written very well and the research done is staggering! The best part is, it "reads" like a novel. It is hard to stop listening. This book would make one hell of a movie. The narrator does a very good job and when he reads the newspaper quotes he even sounds like an old time news reporter.
Great insight to the formative years of the mafia in America.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Ray928
- 02-02-20
History made really interesting
Mike Dash is up there with Mitchell Zuxkoff when it comes to writing this type of historical book. Even Better: Read Dash's book "Betavia's Grageyard:" another outstanding book.
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- Paul B.
- 05-19-23
Very Cool
Great narration and damn, what a story, the detail is ridiculous. Lots of information you’ll never have seen in the movies.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Honest Reviewer
- 06-26-24
An amazing history
As an organized crime devotee, I was delighted to discover this very thorough exploration of its beginnings in the Italian community in America. As others have noted, it reads very much like a novel and displays excellent narration. Very highly recommended,
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- J. Sovar
- 01-09-13
The truth about the origins of the American mafia
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes, this is possibly the best researched and written book about the Mafia.
Which scene was your favorite?
The investigation of the Morello counterfeit operation
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
The murder of Joesph Petrosino
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4 people found this helpful
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- Joseph
- 12-27-20
One of the best books on the mafia . Ever!
If you want to know the early history of the Sicilian Mafia . READ this book ! Expertly written and researched . Bravo !
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- Luke Murphy
- 05-06-21
Very well researched.
The book contained some new and relevant information pertaining to Italian organized crime in America and abroad.
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- Open Ears
- 08-09-18
Mono tone
The Audible book is very boring, had me lost. Never know what the Narrator was saying about.
Over elaboration to story line.
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- gerald
- 02-22-12
just shoot me in the head
What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?
a new story
What was most disappointing about Mike Dash’s story?
it is so slow you just want to go to the next chapter
How did the narrator detract from the book?
could he read any slower
You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?
no
Any additional comments?
a total waste of money
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1 person found this helpful