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.