Borgata: Rise of Empire: A History of the American Mafia

Borgata Trilogy, Book 1

De: Louis Ferrante

Narrado por: Louis Ferrante

The culmination of Louis Ferrante's exhaustive research delving deep into Sicily's socio-economic-political roots, Borgata: Rise of Empire will finally reveal exactly how and why this infamous secret society formed inside Sicilian culture. Ferrante then engages in the art of storytelling by carefully selecting stories about the mafia in Sicily that allow him to follow the main characters to America, where most arrive as fugitives from Italian justice.

Across the Atlantic, the storyline picks up in places like New York and New Orleans, where the clannish Sicilians quickly realize the importance of diversity as they forge new alliances with other recently arrived ethnic groups as the borgata becomes the premier organized criminal network in the country. After planting their flags in cities across America, the adolescent American mafia realizes how to corrupt America's police and political establishment, allowing them to extend their tentacles into every level of American society.

In this first volume, Ferrante traces the mafia's phenomenal "rise of empire" through larger-than-life characters and legendary mobsters as they provide alcohol to the American public during Prohibition, penetrate industrial labor unions, practically take over the island of Cuba and, with extraordinary vision, create the gambling mecca of Las Vegas.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2024 Louis Ferrante (P)2024 Tantor

Enjoying story.

The beginning of the book when the mob is in Italy is a little dragged out. But once the mob gets to America the story gets awesome.

Great insight into the mob

I really enjoyed this book and I’m currently looking for volumes 2 and 3 to read.

Great Book and Author's Voice Makes it Authentic

I read the hardcover and loved it, so I was about to reread it when I decided to get the audiobook and listen on the way to work each day. The author is from this world so you can only imagine how the story comes to life with his voice. I'm getting his other audiobook now. Highly recommended!

Ferrante hits the trifecta

This opening volume of a multi-part work is strongly recommended for nearly anyone, even if they only have a passing or beginners interest in the mafia. Having said that, the book will illuminate the libraries of most people already very familiar with the annals of organized crime. Ferrante has hit the trifecta with Borgata: Rise of Empire. How so? First, this work is exquisitely researched and is organized from the perspective of someone who is both a self-taught scholar and street-wise former mafia associate (but he doesn’t wallow in his former mob connections, and gives what I would consider a fair-handed treatment of the family he worked within). Second, the writing is witty and often humorous but also gritty in the extreme, and above all compelling. With mostly short chapters and a logical flow, it would’ve been a page-turner had I read it. But I didn’t; instead I listened to Borgata, and that leads to the next part of the trifecta. Third, the performance is fantastic. I usually like it when an author reads their own work, and that definitely holds true for Borgata. Mr. Ferrante’s voice and style of execution are just about ideal for this book, and a big part of the fun.

Borgata: Rise of Empire is a scholarly work replete with historical references and in-depth development of the personalities and human relationships at the center of the story. I especially appreciate the more balanced and realistic interpretation of mafia lore compared with what I’ve usually seen in renditions of similar material. As just one example, the authors unravels a more nuanced description of why J Edgar Hoover seemed to treat the mob with kid gloves for several decades. That added depth makes a world of difference for better understanding of this very complex and almost by definition murky material.
Special thanks to the author. I’m looking forward to hearing — or reading — the next two volumes.

Richard Paczynski

A most excellent history of the mob.

This has to be my most favorite history of mostly Italian organized crime which was written by a mafia associate. If you’re not sure on whether to buy it or not, just listen to the author on the many podcasts he has been on. His narration is what made this book. Highly recommended.

Fascinating in depth history of the early Mafia

I loved this book. A time or two I was about to lose interest, but that was quickly overtaken by more fascinating stories. I can't believe how much I learned about what I call, the trilogy of Mafias, the Italians, the Jewish, and the Irish.

In depth detail and organization of that information.

This book was amazing in its detail, ability to tell a (complicated) story in such an organized fashion and the way you feel as though you are taking a guided tour through the times.

I’ve Read and Listened to them All and This is The Best

Louis puts his own touch and put out a classic as one of the most articulate writers and narrators. Perfect mix of factual history with a comical touch. Fantastic read and listen especially in a time packed full of made up unreadable/unlistenable garbage.

Same history, slightly different perspective.

I have read or heard sooooo many mob books. This comes from an insight that is different than what I’ve come across. Every story, every leader is well written, engaging, and detailed. It’s also nice that it’s a long book.

This is a must read or listen too!

I just finished reading Borgata: Rise of the Empire, and I have to say—it blew me away. I’ve read a lot of books on the Mafia, but this one was something different. It didn’t just focus on the usual names and bloody headlines. What really stuck with me was how it tied together two communities you rarely see mentioned in the same breath: Italian Americans and Jewish Americans. I had no idea how closely connected they were in building what became the American Mafia.

This book opened my eyes.

The way the author breaks it down, you realize this wasn’t just about crime—it was about survival, ambition, and community. Immigrants coming to America with nothing, pushed to the margins, finding power in the only places that would allow them a shot at it. I always thought of the Mafia as purely an Italian operation, but this book shows how essential Jewish figures were in shaping organized crime—from Meyer Lansky to Bugsy Siegel—and how much respect and trust there was across both cultures, especially in the early days.

It was wild to read how the Jewish and Italian mobs worked together—running rackets, negotiating with each other, even enforcing their own kind of justice. The book shows that they weren’t just business partners; sometimes they were friends, sometimes enemies, but always intertwined. You could feel the tension and loyalty, the backroom deals, and the unspoken rules.

I also appreciated how it wasn’t just glorifying these people. It told the stories with grit, but also with humanity. It explained how these alliances formed out of necessity, how they shaped entire cities, and how their impact is still felt today—whether we realize it or not.

If you’re into true crime, history, or just want to understand the roots of American power from a street-level view, this book is it. Borgata: Rise of the Empire isn’t just about the Mafia. It’s about two immigrant cultures who found each other in the shadows—and what they built there.