Homo Criminalis

One of the most astute political commentators on Putin and modern Russia

Financial Times

In Homo Criminalis, Mark Galeotti does not shy away from asking the big questions—is every state founded on a crime? Are robbers with of a code of honour a mafia or a kingdom? Why crime flourishes at times of social upheavals? His answers take us on a tour-de-force across the centuries and the continents in a book replete with poignant examples and written in his distinctive style, accessible yet precise. A must read.

Frederico Varese, author of 'Russia in Four Criminals'

The readable, scary, fun beach read of new crime literature

Financial Times

From medieval bandits to modern mafias, Homo Criminalis takes us on a fast-paced journey through the underworlds that have shaped our upperworld. Combining captivating storytelling with incisive analysis, Galeotti's sweeping global history makes a compelling case that to truly understand how the world works we must understand the criminals who've helped create it.

Peter Andreas, author of 'The Illicit Global Economy: What Everyone Needs to Know'

In the study of organised crime we often don't look enough at history and in the study of history we don't look enough at organised crime. There is no one better than Galeotti to bridge the divide as he does in Homo Criminalis. His prescient and often witty narrative keeps you reading, and even if you are buried deep in the debate, there are new insights on every page.

Mark Shaw, Director of the Global Institute Against Transnational Organized Crime

Glittering... the author’s obvious enthusiasm for the subject is matched by impressive erudition.

Spectator