Gomorrah: A Personal Journey into the Violent International Empire of Naples’ Organized Crime System

by Roberto Saviano

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Roberto Saviano (born 22 september 1979 in Naples, Campania, Southern Italy) is an Italian writer and journalist. In his writings, articles and books he employs prose and news-reporting style to narrate the story of the Camorra (a powerful Neapolitan mafia-like organization), exposing its territory and business connections.

Since 2006, following the publication of his bestselling book Gomorrah (Gomorra in Italian), where he describes the clandestine particulars of the Camorra business, Saviano has been threatened by several Neapolitan “godfathers”. The Italian Minister of the Interior has granted him a permanent police escort. Because of his courageous stance, he is considered a “national hero” by important author-philosophers such as Umberto Eco.

Gomorrah won the following prizes: Viareggio-Repaci Prize for best debut novel, Premio Giancarlo Siani, Premio Dedalus, Premio “Lo Straniero”, Premio Letterario Edoardo Kihlgren for best debut novel, Premio Tropea, the Vittorini Prize for civic engagement and the Guido Dorso literary prize. In January 2008 the number of copies sold in Italy surpassed 1,200,000.