Sicily witnessed oppression by organized crime long ago, a time when the State could not shield those serving it. In the 1970s, political figures such as Michele Reina, Piersanti Mattarella, and Pio La Torre stood alone in a fierce battle against the mafia and became notable victims in that struggle. Cesare Terranova, the first judge to scrutinize the criminal network, and Carlo Alberto dalla Chiesa, a high-ranking lawmen who took on the mob, followed in their footsteps. The 1990s then brought the assassinations of Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, sealing their place in the annals of Italian crime history.
In this conflict, the righteous often felt abandoned by those who were supposed to be guardians. Falcone’s deep grasp of the state intertwined with a persistent skepticism toward it. He, like Leonardo Sciascia, recognized a need for the state while doubting its functioning. His perspective suggested that the Sicilian pattern of loyalty to family, clan, or group could erode trust in collective norms, creating a fragile social order and, in worst cases, a direct challenge to those rules.
Roberto Saviano offered a portrayal of Falcone grounded in the loneliness faced by the courageous. Brave Loners traces nearly five decades of struggle, marked by two devastating explosions. The first occurred in a Corleone alley in 1943; the second on the Punta Raisi–Palermo highway near Capaci in 1992. One blast claimed the life of Salvatore Riina’s son, Totò, who was merely twelve, while the other ended Falcone’s decades-long pursuit of evidence against the gang and those who ordered and carried out murders as if they were trivial.
Ultimately, Falcone succeeded in securing a life sentence against Riina and other Cosa Nostra leaders. Yet the challenge of bringing those responsible to justice persisted. In response to this verdict, the mafia struck back with the Capaci bombing, a revenge far-reaching in its impact. The story Saviano tells, informed by meticulous documentation and reexamination of sources, captures the brutal dynamics of a society under siege and the relentless work of investigators who risked everything.
Between these two calamities lies a vital chapter of Italian history: the mafia’s grip, anti-mafia efforts, and the quiet resistance of those who refused to yield. The era was defined by the terror of gunfire and explosives, the defense of law as the sole instrument against a seemingly invincible foe, and the courage required to confront ambushes and betrayals from supposed allies. The sense of isolation and the unfair scrutiny that accompanied such efforts weighed heavily on Falcone, yet the resolve never waned.
Despite the odds, Falcone pressed on. He mapped networks that linked criminal families with political circles and shed light on the exchanges that sustained illicit power. Saviano chronicles this with careful journalism, drawing on a wealth of documents and interviews that reveal the pattern of collusion and the price paid by those who pursued truth. He recounts the deaths of colleagues and guardians who stood with Falcone, including judges Terranova, Rocco Chinnici, and Gaetano Costa; police officer Boris Giuliano; Commissioner Ninni Cassarà; and Palermo’s governor Dalla Chiesa, among many others. Each paid dearly for a belief in justice.
In this narrative, Falcone became a symbol of resilience in the face of fierce hostility. He faced vilification, threats, and the weight of public suspicion, yet he held firm to the conviction that law and order could prevail. His story embodies a moment when a civil service ethos and personal courage converged to confront organized crime at its core.
The overarching arc of Brave Alone traces a timeline from the 1980s onward, presenting the bravery of individuals who stood alone against a formidable, cloaked power. Beyond the dramatic events, the book is anchored in real facts, verified by sources and testimonies gathered over decades following the Capaci massacre and the earlier era. Saviano’s aim is to help readers understand the magnitude of voluntary sacrifice—the kind rooted in service to others and respect for those who risked everything in the line of duty.
Saviano invites readers to revisit Falcone, to regard him anew, and to grasp the depth of his commitment. The judge who faced down a mafia apparatus with unwavering resolve was not only a figure of public duty but a person who valued life, friendship, and good meals. His life reflects a radical form of action born from a sincere wish to resist an existential threat under harsh conditions, driven by faith in justice.
In the author’s view, the question remains whether every citizen can emulate that example. Perhaps the answer is not simple. Yet the work seeks to illuminate the scale of Falcone’s resignation to serve, paying tribute to those who stood in his shoes and were taken from the world. Brave Alone stands as a compelling, transcendent chapter in the ongoing struggle against organized crime.