Under the Clock

by George Carpozi Jr. and William Balsamo

Book Overview

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... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0882820443
• ISBN13: 9780882820446
• Release Date: December 1988
• Publisher: New Horizon Press
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 1.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

History Isn't Always Pretty

Liked the historical perspective and pov. My own grandfather worked on Petrosino's elite squad of cops in the early part of the century. This book is a faithful re-telling of his own stories to me as a kid. Nary a Brando or De Niro in sight!

well written,author a true historion on mafia

the book under the clock is very interesting,and i can't help but wonder if the authors great grand -uncle stayed on as godfather,if one of the crime family of new york wasn't balsamo's.

if you are from brooklyn , this book is a must.

An amazing story that not only tells of the works of the mafia, but for the person from brooklyn it gives insight into the details of a brooklyn that once existed. To imagine that on the streets of columbia and van brunt were stores, carts and a whole community of Italian imigrants. My family was from these streets and it gave me a warm heart to hear about a neighborhood that no longer exist. Burnt out buildings now exist where the old clock stands.My grandfather had his fish store there, my uncle his fish store, my cousins fruit store,and of course my father Iggy carrying pasta up to his grandfather Ignazio who lived above the fish store.What memories, what a book! Though it is a shame about the crime that existed and I am not proud of that, we must see it in historical perspective of a people oppressed and trying to survive and helping each other the only way they could for the time.

First class and very well written!!

One of the best books ever written about the roots of organized crime in the U.S.!! Fast paced and exciting! Reads like a novel, but it's true!

The choice book for learning about the Mafia

Out of all of the resources I used for a 30 hour research project on the Mafia, Under the Clock stands alone. It is not only a good resource, but is one of the most informative and interesting books I've ever read as well. Besides telling about the Italian and Irish mobs, it also tells of the famous mobsters, their lives and day to day activites. From the origins of the Mafia in America to the recent past with John Gotti, every bit of this book is accurate and gripping. As for readability, this book is written in the style of The Hot Zone by Richard Preston: it is factual information, but reads like fiction because of the sensationalistic subject matter. For anyone interested in the Mafia or old Irish organized crime, this will be a fast read. You don't have to know anything about the mob, or any Italian; this book will grab your attention and hold it until the chilling conclusion. One final note: the language used by the mobsters is not of the most pleasant kind and is used in this book as a device to underscore the mentality and dealings of the Mafia. It is not overly gratuitous with its profanity, but it is not for the feint of heart either.