Title: The Sicilian
Author: Mario Puzo
First published November 1, 1984
416 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780345441706 (ISBN10: 0345441702)
Rating: 4.01
Overview
Mario Puzo, the master storyteller, brings to life the captivating tale of The Sicilian. Set in 1950, the story follows Michael Corleone, a man nearing the end of his Sicilian exile.
The Godfather has given him a daunting task: to bring back to America a young Sicilian bandit named Salvatore Giuliano. But Giuliano is no ordinary bandit.
He is a modern-day Robin Hood who has defied the corrupt Cosa Nostra in Sicily. As Michael’s fate becomes intertwined with that of Giuliano’s, he realizes that he has stepped into a web of violence, justice, and treachery.
With lush descriptions of mist-shrouded mountains and ancient ruins, The Sicilian is a romantic and unforgettable tale that will leave readers yearning for more.
About the Author
Mario Puzo was born into a poor family of Neapolitan immigrants in Hell’s Kitchen, New York. His upbringing heavily influenced many of his books.
After graduating from the City College of New York, he joined the United States Army Air Forces in World War II. Despite being unable to undertake combat duties due to poor eyesight, he became a public relations officer stationed in Germany.
Puzo wrote his first book, The Dark Arena, which was published in 1955 after the war.
During the 1950s and early 1960s, Puzo worked for Martin Goodman’s Magazine Management Company as a writer and editor. He wrote World War II adventure features for True Action using the pseudonym Mario Cleri.
In 1969, Puzo’s most famous work, The Godfather, was published. Having heard anecdotes about Mafia organizations during his time in pulp journalism, Puzo’s main motivation for writing the book was to make money.
The Godfather became a number one bestseller for months on the New York Times Best Seller List and was later developed into a film directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The movie received 11 Academy Award nominations and won three, including an Oscar for Puzo for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Coppola and Puzo collaborated on sequels to the original film, The Godfather Part II and The Godfather Part III.
Puzo also worked on other films, including Earthquake and Superman, and collaborated on the stories for A Time to Die and The Cotton Club. He finished the manuscript for his penultimate book, Omertà , before his death, as well as The Family.
However, some have speculated that Omertà may have been completed by someone else.
Puzo passed away from heart failure on July 2, 1999, at his home in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York. His family now resides in East Islip, New York.
Editoral Review
Mario Puzo’s The Sicilian is a gripping tale of crime, loyalty, and honor set in the backdrop of post-World War II Sicily. The author is best known for his iconic novel, The Godfather, and The Sicilian is a sequel of sorts, featuring the character of Salvatore Guiliano, a legendary bandit who became a folk hero in Sicily during the 1940s.
The Sicilian has all the hallmarks of Puzo’s signature style, including vivid descriptions, complex characters, and a fast-paced plot. The novel explores themes of power, justice, and revenge, as well as the complex relationships between family, friends, and foes.
The novel’s plot revolves around Salvatore Guiliano, a notorious bandit who is wanted by the Italian government and the Mafia. When his childhood friend, Michael Corleone, visits Sicily to strike a deal with the Mafia, Guiliano sees an opportunity to escape his life of crime and become a respected citizen.
However, his past catches up with him, and he is forced to make a choice between loyalty and freedom.
Puzo’s writing is superb, and he brings the setting of post-war Sicily to life with his descriptions of the landscape, the people, and the culture. The characters are vividly drawn, and the reader is drawn into their world, feeling their joys and sorrows, triumphs and failures.
However, the novel has some flaws, including a convoluted plot and some uneven pacing. The ending is also somewhat unsatisfying, leaving some loose ends unresolved.
Despite these limitations, The Sicilian is a must-read for fans of crime fiction, historical fiction, and Puzo’s other works. It provides a fascinating glimpse into the world of Sicilian bandits and the complex political and social landscape of post-war Italy.
The novel also has relevance today, as it explores themes of justice, loyalty, and power that are still relevant in our modern world.
Overall, I would highly recommend The Sicilian to anyone who enjoys a well-crafted, thought-provoking novel that combines action, intrigue, and drama. It is a worthy addition to Puzo’s legacy and a testament to his skill as a storyteller.
I give it a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
