“I’ll Make Him an Offer He Can’t Refuse…” Mario Gianluigi Puzo: the Father of “The Godfather” Created by Chika “The Girl” Okusogu

Bada-Bing, Bada-Boom; Its Done ‘Ello ladies and ‘gents, This is Chika “The Girl” Okusogu here to give you some info on man, Puzo, (insert gasp here) himself. You picking up what I’m putting down? Good, let’s get started.

Thesis Explanation Location  Where Puzo was at the time when writing or how where he had been affected him. Location  Where Puzo was at the time when writing or how where he had been affected him. Time Period  During different times of his life, Puzo would write about current events or main themes of that time Time Period  During different times of his life, Puzo would write about current events or main themes of that time Society  a structured community of people bound together by similar traditions institutions, or nationalities gave Puzo a foundation to support his novels Society  a structured community of people bound together by similar traditions institutions, or nationalities gave Puzo a foundation to support his novels

10 Things You MUST Know About Mario Puzo if You Are Going To Leave This Classroom Born on October 15 th, 1920 in the Hell’s Kitchen district of Manhattan, New York Born on October 15 th, 1920 in the Hell’s Kitchen district of Manhattan, New York Died July 2 nd 1999 in Long Island, New York Died July 2 nd 1999 in Long Island, New York Best known for the mafia drama “The Godfather” Best known for the mafia drama “The Godfather” Many novels after “The Godfather” based on organized crime Many novels after “The Godfather” based on organized crime

10 Things You MUST Know About Mario Puzo if You Are Going To Leave This Classroom PARENTS (LeConti) Maria Was a prototype of the main character in “The Godfather” and “The Fortunate Pilgrim” Antonio Worked as a trackman for the NewYork Central Railroad; he left the family when Puzo was 12

10 Things You MUST Know About Mario Puzo if You Are Going To Leave This Classroom Puzo was an avid gambler Puzo was an avid gambler Read voraciously Read voraciously Enjoyed playing tennis Enjoyed playing tennis LOVER OF ITLAIAN CRUSINE LOVER OF ITLAIAN CRUSINE

Early Life In teens, he composed short stories In teens, he composed short stories During WWII, served in Germany as public relations admin. During WWII, served in Germany as public relations admin. Met a German woman named Erkia Lina Broske; got married in 1946; they had 5 children Met a German woman named Erkia Lina Broske; got married in 1946; they had 5 children 1 st novel published in 1955, “Dark Arena” topic of WWII and Germany 1 st novel published in 1955, “Dark Arena” topic of WWII and Germany

Mid-Life Dark Arena did not sell well, but had positive reviews Dark Arena did not sell well, but had positive reviews 2 nd novel, The Fortunate Pilgrim, was considered by some to be Puzo’s best work, but was not popular 2 nd novel, The Fortunate Pilgrim, was considered by some to be Puzo’s best work, but was not popular

Peak of His Career Frustrated by Not being able to achieve commercial recognition, Puzo set out to write a “blockbuster.” WHICH IS????? Frustrated by Not being able to achieve commercial recognition, Puzo set out to write a “blockbuster.” WHICH IS?????

Stats and Info on “The Godfather” Published in 1969 Published in 1969 Held #1 Spot on NY TIMES bestseller list for 67 weeks (about 1 year and 3 months) Held #1 Spot on NY TIMES bestseller list for 67 weeks (about 1 year and 3 months) Sold over 21 MILLION COPIES WORLDWIDE Sold over 21 MILLION COPIES WORLDWIDE Won many awards as a screenplay Won many awards as a screenplay

Info on “The Godfather” Criticized for “Glorifying Gangsters” but Puzo abhorred violence Criticized for “Glorifying Gangsters” but Puzo abhorred violence Famous Line “I’ll Make an Offer He Can’t Refuse.” Famous Line “I’ll Make an Offer He Can’t Refuse.” Sympathized with characters to make the story more gripping to readers Sympathized with characters to make the story more gripping to readers

ITS MAFIA TIME

Cosa Nostra Means “our thing” Means “our thing” Criminal syndicate Criminal syndicate Italian-Exclusive Italian-Exclusive Emerged during the Mid 19 th Century in Sicily, Italy Emerged during the Mid 19 th Century in Sicily, Italy Loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct Loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct

Cosa Nostra Groups known as “clans” or “families” Groups known as “clans” or “families” Mafia emerged during the Late 19 th Century in the US after waves of Italian Emigration Mafia emerged during the Late 19 th Century in the US after waves of Italian Emigration

American Mafia Emerged Along East Coast Emerged Along East Coast 5 Main NY Families: Gambino, Lucchese, Genovese, Bonanno, Coloumbo 5 Main NY Families: Gambino, Lucchese, Genovese, Bonanno, Coloumbo Had Families ALL OVER U.S. Had Families ALL OVER U.S.

Now please refer to your Mafia Handbook Now please refer to your Mafia Handbook

The Godfather Summary The story has a plot that spans from ; including some back stories about some characters. The story has a plot that spans from ; including some back stories about some characters. The story is wrapped around the main character, Michael Corelone, during a mob war between the Five Families of New York. The war is “technically” started when Virgil “The Turk” Sollozzo hired men to attack Don Vito Corelone (the Boss of the most powerful familiy) after he declined his offer to help support a drug ring. When the Don is shot, his underboss and son, Santino “Sonny” Corelone, becomes acting boss and declares war on the Tattaglia. Changes of power lead to instability, bonds are broken, and trust is tested. Michael is forced to undergo different hardships throughout the story in order to bring the Corelones back to its powerful, respected, and stable state. Eventually at the end of this novel, the pain he went though will not go unrewarded. The story is wrapped around the main character, Michael Corelone, during a mob war between the Five Families of New York. The war is “technically” started when Virgil “The Turk” Sollozzo hired men to attack Don Vito Corelone (the Boss of the most powerful familiy) after he declined his offer to help support a drug ring. When the Don is shot, his underboss and son, Santino “Sonny” Corelone, becomes acting boss and declares war on the Tattaglia. Changes of power lead to instability, bonds are broken, and trust is tested. Michael is forced to undergo different hardships throughout the story in order to bring the Corelones back to its powerful, respected, and stable state. Eventually at the end of this novel, the pain he went though will not go unrewarded.

The Godfather Review On a scale from one to ten, I’ll give it a FIFTEEN. On a scale from one to ten, I’ll give it a FIFTEEN. Amazing Plot Development with Characters to Sympathize With Amazing Plot Development with Characters to Sympathize With Verisimilitude really kept the “Italian Mafia” feel to the novel with actual Italian and Mafia phrases, actual locations from the real-world to the fictional one, and characters that seemed alive. Verisimilitude really kept the “Italian Mafia” feel to the novel with actual Italian and Mafia phrases, actual locations from the real-world to the fictional one, and characters that seemed alive.

Final Words Puzo crafted an amazing novel with themes of the corrupted “American Dream,” the strength of family bonds, defining justice and what is right vs. wrong to different eyes, Italian Identity in the USA, and gave a new view on the Mafia by making the reader sympathize with the struggles of the Corelone Family as a whole. Puzo crafted an amazing novel with themes of the corrupted “American Dream,” the strength of family bonds, defining justice and what is right vs. wrong to different eyes, Italian Identity in the USA, and gave a new view on the Mafia by making the reader sympathize with the struggles of the Corelone Family as a whole.

Novels That Puzo Wrote The Godfather; 1969 The Godfather; 1969 The Dark Arena; 1955 The Dark Arena; 1955 The Fortunate Pilgrim; 1965 The Fortunate Pilgrim; 1965 The Runaway Summer of Davie Shaw; 1966 The Runaway Summer of Davie Shaw; 1966 Six Graves to Munich; 1967 Six Graves to Munich; 1967 Fools Die; 1978 Fools Die; 1978 The Sicilian; 1981 The Sicilian; 1981 The Fourth K; 1991 The Fourth K; 1991 The Last Don; 1996 The Last Don; 1996 Omerta; 2000 Omerta; 2000 The Familiy; 2001; completed by Carol Gino The Familiy; 2001; completed by Carol Gino

Works Cited “American Mafia.” en.wikipedia.org. Wikipedia. N.d. Web. April “American Mafia.” en.wikipedia.org. Wikipedia. N.d. Web. April Hall, James B. "Mario Puzo." DISCovering Authors. Detroit: Gale, Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. April Hall, James B. "Mario Puzo." DISCovering Authors. Detroit: Gale, Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. April "Mario Puzo." Newsmakers. Detroit: Gale, Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 15 April 2011 "Mario Puzo." Newsmakers. Detroit: Gale, Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 15 April 2011 “Mario Puzo.” en.wikipedia.org. Wikipedia. N.d. Web. April “Mario Puzo.” en.wikipedia.org. Wikipedia. N.d. Web. April