MBR: The Criminology Shelf

The Criminology Shelf

Mafia: The Glamour Of Crime
Fien Meynendonckx
Tectum Publishers
c/o Innovative Logistics
575 Prospect Street, Suite 301
Lakewood, NJ 08701
www.tectum.be
9789079761791, $59.95, www.amazon.com

A most unusual, oversized, largely photographic, coffee table book,
"Mafia: The Glamour Of Crime" is simply fascinating to browse through;
it presents the history of organized crime from 1910 down to the
present day. The opening sections provide an informatively descriptive
introduction to organized criminal enterprises such as La Cosa Nostra,
the Irish Mob, and 'Kosher Nostra'. After providing a chronological
(decade by decade) of the history of the Mafia in America, author Fien
Meynendonckx goes on to address 'Gangster Talk' and the stereotype of
the gangster. Then we are treated to a pictorial of how the Mafia has
been portrayed in movies and television. Of special note is the
chapter focused on other regional and global organized criminal
enterprises including the Yakuza, the Kkangpae, the Triad, the Vor, Le
Eme, and the Mumbai Mafia. Concluding with cogent observations on the
reality of organized crime, "Mafia: The Glamour Of Crime" is enhanced
with a closing epilogue and a profusion of memorable quotations. A
very special feature also is the informed and informative texts that
accompany the superbly produced photographs throughout. The texts are
in English, French, and Germany. "Mafia: The Glamour Of Crime" is an
entertaining and very highly recommended acquisition for community,
and academic library Criminology and Cinema Studies reference
collections, as well as supplemental reading lists for non-specialist
general readers with an interest in how organized crime has been
treated by Hollywood filmmakers.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to
promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We
accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given
to post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites,
newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion groups, organizational
newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest
Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines
"California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch",
"MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch".
All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www
(dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them
to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to
Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title,
author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number,
13-digit ISBN number, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review