Product Description

This work follows the life of Tony Soprano, a mafia crime boss from New Jersey, as he juggles his life in the mob with his family relationships and his psychiatrist. This is an in-depth look at the fictional world of the Sopranos, a multi-award winning US tv show. The family, friends, therapists and the FBI tell the story of Tony Soprano and his dual life. They are all here, his wife Carmela, his children, his mother, Livia - what a nightmare!, and his cronies from the mob. It's all wrapped up in the reflections of the woman who knows things about Tony even his wife doesn't know - Dr Melfi. This book has a collection of intimate personal details, never-before-seen family photographs and documents and stills from the show. It explains the history of both families and how they ended up in the web of love, deceit and psychotherapy that is the Sopranos.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #720710 in Books
• Published on: 2000-10-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 192 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Tipping a knowing wink to Mafia pop culture and armed with a stylish mix of wickedly black humour, richly textured drama and savage violence, The Sopranos has quickly consolidated its position as a masterpiece of modern television. Frankly, to miss it is to be denied a superior cultural treat. Pleasingly, this official guide to the show is not a bog-standard episode guide with dull analysis. Indeed, author Allen Rucker has taken the clever and witty route of presenting the world of the Sopranos as a series of FBI files, wire-tap transcripts, confidential e-mails, seized evidence and the like. Whether it be Tony's relationship with his family (or the inner workings of "his other Family"), this approach works an absolute treat and allows readers to really immerse themselves in this vivid and engaging world. It is surprisingly effective as well, with elements that are only hinted at in the show wonderfully fleshed out, such as Tony and Carmela's teenage love letters(!), how Mob money is divided and Anthony Jr's school psychology report. Only in the last section of the book do we return to reality with an interview with Sopranos' creator David Chase, an in-depth episode guide and profiles of the cast (nearly all of whom are Godfather/Goodfellas alumni). With such lavish and inventive attention paid to it, this guide cannot fail to please, easily enhancing your enjoyment of a show that exposes most TV as mindless dross. Can you really refuse an offer like that? --Danny Graydon

From the Publisher
The incredible true story of the Sopranos
The Sopranos is one of the most acclaimed – and popular – shows in the history of American television. Described by the New York Times as ‘the best American TV drama ever made’ and by The Observer as a ‘modern masterpiece’, it has a huge cult following in the UK with over 2 million viewers tuning in weekly to watch New Jersey Mafia crime boss Tony Soprano juggle his deadly life in the mob with his suburban family life and his psychiatrist.

The Sopranos: A Family History takes an in-depth look at the world of Tony Soprano with family, friends, therapists and the ever-present FBI telling the inside story of his schizophrenic life. We learn about all the people who both love him and drive him crazy - his wife Carmela, his children, his nightmare of a mother, Livia and all of his nefarious mob cronies down at the Pork Store – Christopher, Silvio, Paulie Walnuts, and the rest. And of course, it’s all wrapped up in the reflections of the woman who knows his darkest fears and secrets, his shrink, Dr Jennifer Melfi.

Written in a tongue-in-cheek mock-journalistic style, the book gives the whole background, past and present, on the Sopranos ever-expanding web of love, deceit and psychotherapy. It traces the family from its origins in Italy and includes never-before-seen FBI reports, rare family photos and letters, eyewitness accounts of Tony in high school, staff reports on Livia at the Green Grove Retirement Home, excerpts from Christopher’s action-packed screenplay and a ‘Body Count’ of all the speople killed by the crime family. Also included is a special ‘Mobspeak’ glossary so you can tell the difference between capos, cugines and mayonnaisers, as well as cast profiles, in-depth episode summaries and a long interview with the brilliant creator and executive producer of The Sopranos David Chase.

Allen Rucker is a veteran, award-winning American TV writer and the co-author of the best-selling satire, The History of White People in America. Most recently, he wrote the cable special, Family Values: The Mob & the Movies. Allen went to college with Sopranos creator David Chase and has known him for 30 years.

Customer Reviews

Good but could have been better
Channel 4 Books has issued a paperback edition of the excellent
official companion book to hit US TV series The Sopranos.
But they have short-changed UK fans. The paperback version
of this book published in America features 16 pages of new
material covering Season 3. The UK edition does not.
Shame on you, Channel 4 Books!

A MUST FOR ANY FAN OF THE SOPRANOS
As soon as i heard that there were a book to acompany the series i didn`t hesitate to purchase it,and i wasn`t dissapointed with its in depth look at how the family came together and some of the older members and where they originate no one who could be dissapointed.With a good look at how real life wiseguys earn and how they score makes this book unique.I was very impressed with Allen Ruckers in depth look at all the major people and all the major events that have happened in the series.Also he talks to all the stars of the show and tells you what else they have starred in.I could go and on and on but honestly just have a look yourself and i promise you won`t be dissapointed.

Best TV tie-in I've ever read
A classic series such as The Sopranos deserves a well-written in-depth tie-in book to go with it. Now it's got one.

This book doesn't just stick to your standard bios of the characters and actors and episode guides (though it does have these as well), but it goes deeper, exploring the history of the Sopranos family, digging out "FBI files" about the characters, along with transcripts of recorded conversations. Plus, as an added bonus, you get a guide to all of the murders in the first series in case you missed one! TV tie-ins don't come better than this...