Most Notorious! A True Crime History Podcast 334: The Birth of the Mafia w/ Louis Ferrante - A True Crime History Podcast
Feb 21, 2024
Lou Ferrante, a former Gambino mob associate turned bestselling author, dives deep into the roots of the Mafia. He shares how Sicilian culture shaped organized crime in America, particularly in New Orleans, where immigrants battled corruption. Ferrante highlights the complexities of Italian-American identity and the personal transformation he underwent while in prison. With insights from his new book, he reveals the intersecting worlds of crime and legitimate business, blending historical anecdotes with a touch of humor to humanize a notorious narrative.
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From Gangster To Reader-Writer
- Louis Ferrante grew up in Queens and ran armed robbery and hijacking crews for the Gambino family before his 1994 imprisonment.
- He took a 13-year plea, refused to inform, and used prison to educate himself and teach himself to write.
Learn To Write By Reading Masters
- Teach yourself by reading masters: Ferrante studied great novels to learn writing techniques.
- Take notes on structure, character entry and exit, and mimic methods to develop craft.
Lived Experience Reveals Historical Gaps
- Ferrante argues lived experience reveals factual errors academics miss when writing mafia histories.
- He teaches readers to deduce what could or couldn't have happened using his insider perspective.
