Marc Raboy gives us the first real account of Marconi's vital role as the wizard of wireless, industry developer, and consummate political insider. Raboy's impeccably researched biography will help guide histories of global media in the years ahead.

Prologue: Marconi in his time and ours -- Part I. The prodigy -- Bologna : the beginnings -- Priority and detractors -- London : start-up -- The magician -- New York : new frontiers -- Love and imperialism -- The upstart technology -- "The great thing" -- Newfoundland : the world shrinks -- Part II. The player -- Corralling the brand -- Regulation -- Marriage -- A life in litigation -- The Marconi aura -- A new world order -- On the way to somewhere -- The perfect laureate -- Part III. The patriot -- The Godsend -- Signals of war -- Wireless and disaster -- "The Marconi scandal" -- The invisible weapon -- "L'eroe magico" -- The statesman -- The spark -- Part IV. The outsider -- The master of the house -- The Beam indenture -- Radio -- The merger -- The anchor -- Part V. The conformist -- A servant of the regime -- Science and Fascism -- "Your every wish is my command" -- Controlling his legacy -- The heritage -- He only cared about wireless....