For thirty years, the author has reported on the shadowy activities of Cosa Nostra. Now, for the first time, he has collected together a powerful anthology of rare interviews, court proceedings and transcripts of phone taps that capture the essence of this most hidden of secret societies. From the 'traditional' Mafia of the early twentieth century to the 'Maxi' show-trials of the 1980s and beyond, this book is both a history of modern Sicilian crime, and a unique record of the twisted logic and language of Cosa Nostra. From the most humble of foot soldiers to famous pentiti ('grasses') and top-level bosses, this is a portrait of the men who live by a code of silence -- in their own words.