Mario Puzo is primarily a novelist, a storyteller of uncommon gifts whose American literary ancestors are the Naturalistic writers who focus on the American "cityscape," on the lower orders of the middle class, the streets, the resourcefulness, the upwar...

One of American popular culture's most resilient narratives is that of the Mafia and its antiheroic gangsters, and one of this genre's most popular and poignant products is Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather trilogy, based on...

The Godfather is a novel written by 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, NY) and headed by Don Vito Corleone,...

It's difficult to imagine the world without a mafia though maybe John Lennon could? Whether you call them 'the mob', or know them by a three-letter acronym, criminal organisations are everywhere. Their origins are older than any of us can remember and they are...

Puzo's novel 'The Godfather' has sold over 21 million copies and still brings in substantial royalties to its author. Puzo talks about the success of the 'The Godfather,' his experiences writing the screenplays of the Godfather movies and his latest book, 'The Last Don.'...

The game begins with you roleplaying as an extra in the movie. You get to create your own mob look, from facial features to clothes. Once the game starts, you meet the Don quite early and start putting in work to rise up the ranks...

Before the crunk and hyphy movements were even in their fetal positions, there was Uncle Luke (2LiveCrew) and his Miami Bass Music. Who can forget, walking into a sweaty and heaving house party in the early 90’s, and seeing girls shaking their t*tis and popping...

In the following excerpt, Cawelti examines Puzo's depiction of the criminal organization as a family unit in The Godfather.

In the following excerpt, Green examines the major themes of The Godfather and discusses Puzo's contribution to Italian-American literature.

In the following excerpt, Gardaphe examines elements of myth and cultural assimilation in The Godfather, contending that it "has done more to create a national consciousness of the Italian American experience than any work of fiction or nonfiction published before or since."

Discusses the effects of Mario Puzo's The Godfather on American society during the 1960's and describes how it was a metaphor for American culture during this time frame. Elaborates on reasons for its popularity during this era.

The Godfather, created by Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo, is arguably the greatest movie ever made. It has influenced the creation of dozens of subsequent mafia movies, significantly impacted the cinema industry. Micheal Corleone is a tragic hero in the sense of his change; his downfall from what is seen as honest and hardworking, to manipulative and "gangster."