The Vory

Russia's Super Mafia

By: Mark Galeotti

Narrated by: Nigel Patterson

Mark Galeotti is the go-to expert on organized crime in Russia, consulted by governments and police around the world. Now, Western listeners can explore the fascinating history of the vory v zakone, a group that has survived and thrived amid the changes brought on by Stalinism, the Cold War, the Afghan War, and the end of the Soviet experiment.

The vory - as the Russian mafia is also known - was born early in the 20th century, largely in the Gulags and criminal camps, where they developed their unique culture. Identified by their signature tattoos, members abided by the thieves' code, a strict system that forbade all paid employment and cooperation with law enforcement and the state. Based on two decades of on-the-ground research, Galeotti's captivating study details the vory's journey to power from their early days to their adaptation to modern-day Russia's free-wheeling oligarchy and global opportunities beyond.

©2018 Mark Galeotti (P)2018 Tantor

Solid Overview

Well written and well read overview of the Vory. Starts at the beginning centuries ago and brings the reader up to the state of the Vory in 2018. Discusses multiple perspectives and facets of the Vory, and its role in society, but could have gone deeper into the culture/spirit.

Read like a history book

Read like an old history book. Yes it was detailed, but it was boring. I was hoping it’d get more detailed into specific activities that took place.

Quite good insights to understand russia and its regime and how criminal mind is embedded into their spirit

Quite good insights to understand russia and its regime and how criminal mind is embedded into their spirit

Very good, not great

Narration was good. Info was good. Not as entertaining or bloody as I expected, though.

A must read to understand Russia today

To understand Russia today you must understand the deep complexity of Russian history. This work presents a perspective not found in a college Poli-Sci course.