Summary
The Godfather, published in 1969 by Mario Puzo, is a landmark novel that forever changed the landscape of crime fiction. This sweeping saga of the Corleone family, led by the formidable Don Vito Corleone, explores themes of power, loyalty, and the dark underbelly of the American Dream. The book spent an impressive 67 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list and sold over nine million copies in just two years.
Puzo's masterpiece introduced readers to a world of organized crime, bringing Italian words like “consigliere” and “omertà” into the English lexicon. The novel's gripping portrayal of the Mafia underworld resonated with millions of readers worldwide, cementing its place as a definitive work in American literature. In 2003, it was ranked #91 on the BBC's “The Big Read” list of the UK's best-loved novels.
While The Godfather stands as a literary triumph in its own right, it's impossible to discuss the book without mentioning its iconic film adaptation. Francis Ford Coppola's 1972 movie, starring Marlon Brando and Al Pacino, won three Academy Awards and is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. The success of both the novel and the film adaptation has ensured that the Corleone family's story remains deeply ingrained in popular culture, even half a century after its initial publication.
Plot
The Godfather follows the Corleone family, one of the Five Families of the New York Mafia. The story begins as Don Vito Corleone is shot by men working for drug kingpin Virgil “The Turk” Sollozzo. This event disrupts the peace between the Mafia families and triggers a series of violent conflicts.
Vito's sons, Santino (Sonny) and Michael, take charge of the family business with help from consigliere Tom Hagen and caporegimes Peter Clemenza and Salvatore Tessio. After Michael murders Sollozzo and corrupt police captain Mark McCluskey, he flees to Sicily. The conflict escalates into a full-scale war, resulting in Sonny's murder.
Michael returns from Sicily to become the new Don. Under his father's guidance, he devises a plan for revenge and to move the family's power base to Las Vegas. This plan involves eliminating all of the Corleone family's enemies, including Michael's brother-in-law Carlo Rizzi, who played a role in Sonny's death.
The novel concludes with Michael successfully orchestrating the murders of the family's rivals. He sells all remaining businesses in New York, and the Corleones permanently relocate to Las Vegas. Michael's actions secure the family's power and set the stage for their transition from organized crime to legitimate business.
Themes
Family loyalty and honor
Power and corruption
The American Dream
Tradition vs modernity
Violence and revenge
Patriarchy and masculinity
Ethnicity and cultural identity
Setting
The Godfather is primarily set in the post-World War II era of the 1940s and 1950s, capturing a pivotal time in American history. This period saw significant societal changes, economic growth, and the rise of organized crime in major cities. The novel vividly portrays the underbelly of American society during this transformative era.
Geographically, the story unfolds primarily in New York City and its surrounding areas, with a particular focus on Manhattan and Long Island. The Corleone family's operations extend throughout the city, from their olive oil business front to their various criminal enterprises. Additionally, key scenes take place in Las Vegas, Nevada, as the family seeks to expand their influence westward.
Specific locations play crucial roles in the narrative. The Corleone family compound on Long Island serves as a central hub for family gatherings and business discussions. Manhattan's Little Italy neighborhood features prominently, reflecting the Italian-American community's strong presence. The novel also takes readers to Sicily, Italy, where Michael Corleone seeks refuge, providing a stark contrast to the American urban landscape and offering insight into the family's cultural roots.
Characters
Vito Corleone: The patriarch and Don of the Corleone crime family. A skilled and ruthless businessman who built a powerful criminal empire through violence and cunning. Despite his brutality in business, he is a loving father who wants to protect and provide for his family. Vito's journey from poor Sicilian immigrant to powerful Mafia boss forms the backstory of the novel.
Michael Corleone: Vito's youngest son who initially wants no part of the family business. A decorated World War II veteran and college graduate, he is drawn into the criminal underworld after an assassination attempt on his father. Michael's transformation from reluctant outsider to ruthless Don drives the main plot of the novel.
Sonny Corleone: Vito's hot-headed eldest son and heir apparent. Impulsive and violent, Sonny takes control of the family when Vito is shot. His rash actions escalate the mob war, ultimately leading to his own downfall.
Tom Hagen: The Corleone family's adopted son and consigliere (advisor). A skilled lawyer and negotiator, Tom provides levelheaded counsel to balance Sonny's aggression.
Kay Adams: Michael's girlfriend and eventual wife. An outsider to the criminal world, Kay struggles to reconcile her love for Michael with the violent reality of his family business.
Fredo Corleone: Vito's middle son. Kind-hearted but weak and incompetent, Fredo is often overlooked and underestimated by his family.
Connie Corleone: Vito's only daughter. Her tumultuous marriage to Carlo Rizzi brings trouble to the family.
Peter Clemenza: One of Vito's caporegimes (captains). A loyal soldier who has been with the family since the beginning.
Salvatore Tessio: Another of Vito's longtime caporegimes. Intelligent and ambitious, he ultimately betrays the family.
Luca Brasi: The Corleone family's most feared enforcer. Known for his unquestioning loyalty and brutal efficiency.
Johnny Fontane: A famous singer and Vito's godson. His career troubles lead to one of the novel's most iconic scenes.
Carlo Rizzi: Connie's abusive husband. His actions set in motion events that change the course of the family.
Quick facts
Mario Puzo wrote The Godfather to get out of debt, having accrued over $20,000 in gambling losses.
The novel spent 67 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list.
Puzo had never met a real-life mafioso when he wrote the book, basing it entirely on research.
The character of Johnny Fontane was loosely based on Frank Sinatra, who was reportedly furious about the portrayal.
Puzo's original title for the novel was Mafia, but his editors convinced him to change it.
The book introduced many Italian words like “consigliere” and “omertà” to English-speaking audiences.
Paramount Pictures bought the film rights before the novel was even finished, paying just $12,500.
Puzo wrote a 50-page treatment for the film adaptation before completing the novel.
The famous line “I'll make him an offer he can't refuse” appears in the book before it was immortalized in the film.
Puzo based the character of Vito Corleone on a combination of real-life mob bosses Frank Costello and Carlo Gambino.
About the Author
Mario Puzo, born in 1920 to Italian immigrants in New York City's Hell's Kitchen, rose from humble beginnings to become one of America's most celebrated authors. Despite growing up in poverty and facing personal hardships, including his father's hospitalization for schizophrenia, Puzo pursued his passion for writing. After serving in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, he graduated from City College of New York and began his literary career.
Puzo's breakthrough came with the publication of The Godfather in 1969. This crime novel about the Italian-American Mafia became a cultural phenomenon, spending 67 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list and selling over nine million copies in two years. The book's success led to a collaboration with director Francis Ford Coppola on the iconic film adaptation, for which Puzo won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay in 1972.
Throughout his career, Puzo demonstrated versatility as a writer. He penned pulp fiction under the pseudonym Mario Cleri, authored several other novels, and worked on screenplays for major Hollywood productions. Notable among these were the sequels to The Godfather, as well as the original screenplay for the 1978 Superman film. His work often explored themes of power, family, and the immigrant experience in America.
Puzo's legacy extends beyond his most famous work. He continued writing until his death in 1999, with his final novel, The Family, published posthumously in 2001. His influence on popular culture and literature remains significant, with his portrayal of the Mafia in The Godfather shaping public perception of organized crime for generations. Puzo's life and work continue to be celebrated, most recently in the 2022 Paramount+ series The Offer, which dramatizes the creation of The Godfather film.
