The incredible story of a war between gangs of tomb raiders, from Maremma to California

Many of the Etruscan artifacts now exhibited in the world's most prestigious galleries have a story. This one, for example…

Tuscany, 1972. Bardo is the best tomb raider around. Over the years, he has managed to build an illicit traffic of Etruscan artifacts, via the capital and all the way to America. When his son Giovanni takes over the trade, it soon becomes apparent he lacks his father's talents. As if that weren't enough, rival gangs see this moment of weakness as a good opportunity to take over the market.

A story of betrayal, revenge, and true love, The Witch's Mouth offers a glimpse into the world that shaped the history of many museums, from Italy's provinces and the romantic land pirates and their excavation fever, all the way to the highest echelons of global trading.



"Compelling."



"As deep as an excavation job, as painstaking as the cleaning of a thousand-year-old bronze statuette."



"Breathtaking."