The Godfather (novel)

The Godfather is a crime novel written by Italian-American author Mario Puzo, originally published in 1969 by G. P. Putnam’s Sons. It details the story of a fictitious Sicilian Mafia family based in New York City (and Long Beach, New York) and headed by Don Vito Corleone, who became synonymous with the Italian Mafia. The novel covers the years 1945 to 1955, and also provides the back story of Vito Corleone from early childhood to adulthood.

The book introduced Italian criminal terms like consigliere, caporegime, Cosa Nostra, and omertà to an English-speaking audience.

It formed the basis for a 1972 film of the same name. Two film sequels, including new contributions by Puzo himself, were made in 1974 and 1990. The first and second films are widely considered to be two of the greatest films of all time.

Main characters

The Corleone family patriarch is Vito Corleone (The Don), whose surname (Italian for “Lionheart”) recalls the town of Corleone, Sicily. Vito has four children: Santino “Sonny” Corleone, Frederico “Fredo” Corleone, Michael “Mikey” Corleone, and Constanzia “Connie” Corleone. He also has an informally adopted son, Tom Hagen, who became the Corleones’ consigliere. Vito Corleone is also the godfather of a singer and movie star Johnny Fontane. The Godfather referred to in the title is generally taken to be Vito. However, the story’s central character is actually Michael; its central theme follows that it is Michael’s destiny to replace his father as the head of the family, despite his determination to lead a more Americanized life with his girlfriend (and eventual wife) Kay Adams.

The Corleone family are in fact a criminal organization with national influence, notably protection, extortion, gambling and union control. Under the Don is his oldest son Santino, who serves as underboss. The operational side of the organization is headed by two caporegime, Peter Clemenza and Salvatore Tessio.

Plot

The plot deals with a mob war fought between the Corleone family and the other four of the five Mafia families in New York. After Don Vito Corleone is shot by men working for drug dealer Virgil “The Turk” Sollozzo, his two sons, Santino and Michael, must run the family business with the help of consigliere Tom Hagen and the two caporegime Peter Clemenza and Salvatore Tessio. When Michael murders Sollozzo and Captain McCluskey, an Irish police captain on the drug lord’s payroll, the conflict escalates into a full scale war; this ultimately results in Santino’s murder and Michael’s ascension to the head of the family. He initially desires to legitimize the family business, but gradually becomes even more ruthless than his father, orchestrating the murder of all of the family’s enemies, including his brother-in-law Carlo Rizzi, who played a part in Santino’s murder. Michael then sells all the family’s business in New York and moves the Corleones to Las Vegas.

The novel also concerns several minor characters, such as the Don’s godson Johnny Fontane and his friend Nino Valenti, Sonny’s mistress Lucy Mancini, and Michael’s bodyguard Al Neri. Many of these subplots are not included in the movie.

courtesy: Wikipedia