““I’ll Make Him an Offer I’ll Make Him an Offer He Can’t Refuse…”He Can’t Refuse…”

Mario Gianluigi Puzo: the Father of Mario Gianluigi Puzo: the Father of “The Godfather”“The Godfather”

Created by Chika “The Created by Chika “The Girl” OkusoguGirl” Okusogu

Bada-Bing, Bada-Boom; Its DoneBada-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 ExplanationThesis Explanation

LocationLocation Where Puzo was at the time Where Puzo was at the time when writing or how where he had been when writing or how where he had been affected him.affected him.

Time PeriodTime Period During different times of his During different times of his life, Puzo would write about current events life, Puzo would write about current events or main themes of that timeor main themes of that time

Society Society a structured community of a structured community of people bound together by similar people bound together by similar traditions institutions, or nationalities gave traditions institutions, or nationalities gave Puzo a foundation to support his novelsPuzo a foundation to support his novels

10 Things You MUST Know About 10 Things You MUST Know About Mario Puzo if You Are Going To Mario Puzo if You Are Going To

Leave This ClassroomLeave This Classroom Born on October 15Born on October 15thth, 1920 in the , 1920 in the

Hell’s Kitchen district of Manhattan, Hell’s Kitchen district of Manhattan, New YorkNew York

Died July 2Died July 2ndnd 1999 in Long Island, 1999 in Long Island, New YorkNew York

Best known for the mafia drama “The Best known for the mafia drama “The Godfather”Godfather”

Many novels after “The Godfather” Many novels after “The Godfather” based on organized crime based on organized crime

10 Things You MUST Know About 10 Things You MUST Know About Mario Puzo if You Are Going To Leave Mario Puzo if You Are Going To Leave

This ClassroomThis Classroom

PARENTS(LeConti)

MariaWas a prototype of the main character

in “The Godfather” and “The Fortunate Pilgrim”

AntonioWorked as a trackman for the NewYork

Central Railroad; he left the family when Puzo was 12

10 Things You MUST Know About 10 Things You MUST Know About Mario Puzo if You Are Going To Mario Puzo if You Are Going To

Leave This ClassroomLeave This Classroom

Puzo was an avid gamblerPuzo was an avid gambler Read voraciouslyRead voraciously Enjoyed playing tennisEnjoyed playing tennis LOVER OF ITLAIAN CRUSINELOVER OF ITLAIAN CRUSINE

Early LifeEarly Life

In teens, he composed short storiesIn teens, he composed short stories During WWII, served in Germany as During WWII, served in Germany as

public relations admin.public relations admin. Met a German woman named Erkia Met a German woman named Erkia

Lina Broske; got married in 1946; Lina Broske; got married in 1946; they had 5 childrenthey had 5 children

11stst novel published in 1955, “Dark novel published in 1955, “Dark Arena” topic of WWII and Germany Arena” topic of WWII and Germany

Mid-LifeMid-Life

Dark Arena did not sell well, Dark Arena did not sell well, but had positive reviewsbut had positive reviews

22ndnd novel, The Fortunate novel, The Fortunate Pilgrim, was considered by Pilgrim, was considered by some to be Puzo’s best work, some to be Puzo’s best work, but was not popularbut was not popular

Peak of His CareerPeak of His Career

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

Stats and Info on “The Godfather”Stats and Info on “The Godfather”

Published in 1969Published in 1969 Held #1 Spot on NY TIMES bestseller Held #1 Spot on NY TIMES bestseller

list for 67 weeks (about 1 year and 3 list for 67 weeks (about 1 year and 3 months)months)

Sold over 21 MILLION COPIES Sold over 21 MILLION COPIES WORLDWIDEWORLDWIDE

Won many awards as a screenplayWon many awards as a screenplay

Info on “The Godfather”Info on “The Godfather”

Criticized for “Glorifying Gangsters” Criticized for “Glorifying Gangsters” but Puzo abhorred violencebut Puzo abhorred violence

Famous Line “I’ll Make an Offer He Famous Line “I’ll Make an Offer He Can’t Refuse.”Can’t Refuse.”

Sympathized with characters to Sympathized with characters to make the story more gripping to make the story more gripping to readers readers

ITS MAFIA ITS MAFIA TIMETIME

Cosa NostraCosa Nostra Means “our thing”Means “our thing” Criminal syndicateCriminal syndicate Italian-ExclusiveItalian-Exclusive Emerged during the Mid 19Emerged during the Mid 19thth Century Century

in Sicily, Italyin Sicily, Italy Loose association of criminal groups Loose association of criminal groups

that share a common organizational that share a common organizational structure and code of conductstructure and code of conduct

Cosa NostraCosa Nostra

Groups known as “clans” or Groups known as “clans” or “families”“families”

Mafia emerged during the Late 19Mafia emerged during the Late 19thth Century in the US after waves of Century in the US after waves of Italian EmigrationItalian Emigration

American MafiaAmerican Mafia

Emerged Along East CoastEmerged Along East Coast 5 Main NY Families: Gambino, 5 Main NY Families: Gambino,

Lucchese, Genovese, Bonanno, Lucchese, Genovese, Bonanno, ColoumboColoumbo

Had Families ALL OVER U.S.Had Families ALL OVER U.S.

Now please refer to Now please refer to your Mafia your Mafia HandbookHandbook

The Godfather Summary The Godfather Summary The story has a plot that spans from 1945-1955; including The story has a plot that spans from 1945-1955; including

some back stories about some characters.some back stories about some characters.

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

The Godfather ReviewThe Godfather Review

On a scale from one to ten, I’ll give it a On a scale from one to ten, I’ll give it a FIFTEEN.FIFTEEN.

Amazing Plot Development with Amazing Plot Development with Characters to Sympathize WithCharacters to Sympathize With

Verisimilitude really kept the “Italian Verisimilitude really kept the “Italian Mafia” feel to the novel with actual Italian Mafia” feel to the novel with actual Italian and Mafia phrases, actual locations from and Mafia phrases, actual locations from the real-world to the fictional one, and the real-world to the fictional one, and characters that seemed alive. characters that seemed alive.

Final WordsFinal Words

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

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

Works CitedWorks Cited ““American Mafia.” en.wikipedia.org. Wikipedia. American Mafia.” en.wikipedia.org. Wikipedia.

N.d. Web. April 17 2011N.d. Web. April 17 2011 Hall, James B. "Mario Puzo." Hall, James B. "Mario Puzo." DISCovering DISCovering AuthorsAuthors. .

Detroit: Gale, 2003. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Gale Gale Student Student Resources In ContextResources In Context. Web. April 15 . Web. April 15 2011.2011.

"Mario Puzo." "Mario Puzo." NewsmakersNewsmakers. Detroit: . Detroit: Gale, Gale, 2000. 2000. Gale Student Resources In ContextGale Student Resources In Context. . Web. 15 April 2011Web. 15 April 2011

““Mario Puzo.” en.wikipedia.org. Wikipedia. Mario Puzo.” en.wikipedia.org. Wikipedia. N.d. Web. April 19 2011N.d. Web. April 19 2011