International Bibliographic Index (IBI)

[Wu Han]

Title: The Man Behind the Man: the Dominance of Sigismondo Falzon
Author(s): Scaricordi, Zaru

Published: Qart Qildar: Grupp Editorjali PNFP
Year: 5400
Language(s): Gziri (original); multiple translations.
Physical Details: 431 p.
Subjects: Biographical; politics.
Wiki Page: N/A.

Summary: In The Man Behind the Man, commercial gym owner, infomercial icon, and acclaimed journalist Zaru Scaricordi sets out to examine the career of iconic Cildanian politician Sigismondo Falzon. Falzon was born sometime between 5369-5370 into difficult circumstances, which Scaricordi claims forced Falzon to learn how to manipulate and control others in order to secure his survival. Like most biographies of Falzon, Scaricordi spends little attention on the politician's pre-political life, acknowledging the "absolute lack of information anywhere about [Falzon] between the approximate period of his birth until his mid-thirties," writing that "Like Eliyahu, certain great men in history are fated to have missing years." Nevertheless, Scaricordi provides some details on Falzon's business career prior to entering politics, during which time he sowed the seeds that would later become the Grupp Falzon. The bulk of Scaricordi's writing, however, focuses on Falzon's political career, until his disappearance in 5348.

Scaricordi's central argument in the book is that Falzon represented the éminence grise of Cildanian politics for the better part of the 52nd century, influencing, coercing, and manipulating prominent figures into advancing his agenda knowingly or unknowingly. Specifically, Scaricordi argues that longtime Cildanian Prime Minister Guiliano Alagona was a puppet of Falzon. "Once Alagona's greed became far too much for his union salary to accomodate, he had no where to turn but to suckle at the teat of Falzon's largesse" writes Scaricordi. "After experiencing life at the top, Alagona never wanted to visit a picket line again."

To support his characterization of Falzon as the 'power behind the throne,' Scaricordi cites Falzon's role in bringing down the government of Franġisku Namur, Falzon's close relationship with the all-powerful tobacco lobby, Falzon's role in negotiating the confidence and supply agreement that kept the OtSB out of power, and the Kesep Agreement which all legal political parties in Cildania ratified on his direction.

Drawing parallels to Falzon’s career, the book garnered a surprisingly large fanbase within Cildania’s LGBTQ+ community.

Notable Quotations:
Scaricordi, on the announcement of the AgK renewal in 5323, wrote:

Guiliano felt the meaty hand of the stronger, older male grip the back of his supple and well-fed neck; his hair standing on end, his knees nearly buckling. Guiliano knew in that moment that his destiny would be determined by this powerful man, so throughly his opposite. However, as they say, opposites attract.

---

Originally posted by Wu Han on Jan 15, 2024.