Mario Puzo Libros

(Edición 50 Aniversario) La publicación de El Padrino en 1969 convulsionó el mundo literario. Por primera vez, la Mafia protagonizaba una novela y era retratada desde dentro. Mario Puzo la presentaba no como una mera asociación de facinerosos, sino como una compleja sociedad con una cultura propia y una jerarquía aceptada incluso más allá de los círculos de la delincuencia. El Padrino narra la historia de un hombre, Vito Corleone, el capo más respetado de Nueva York. Déspota benevolente, implacable con sus rivales, inteligente y fiel a los principios del honor y la amistad. Don Corleone dirige un emporio que abarca el fraude y la extorsión, los juegos de azar y el control de los sindicatos. La vida y negocios de Don Corleone, así como los de su hijo y heredero Michael, conforman el eje de esta magistral obra.

El libro recorre parte de la vida de Lucía Santa en América, donde llega procedente de Italia después de casarse por poderes con un hombre al que no conoce. Se trata de una descripción de la vida de los inmigrantes italianos en Nueva York, donde buscan fortuna y salir de la pobreza que los atenaza y guía en sus decisiones diarias. La novela se centra en el personaje de una típica madre italiana de principios del siglo pasado, inspirada en la propia madre de Mario Puzo. En esta edición, La Mamma está acompañada de la novela más famosa de Puzo: "El Padrino".

El exilio de dos años en Sicilia de Michael Corleone, hijo de Don Vito, está a punto de concluir, pero su padre le ha encomendado una misión: no regresar a Estados Unidos sin Salvatore Giuliano. Este último es una leyenda popular que, en 1943, se rebeló junto a su primo Gaspare Pisciotta contra una patrulla de carabinieri mientras traficaban alimentos. Tras ese incidente, se refugiaron en las montañas y comenzaron a luchar por los sicilianos oprimidos por la Mafia y la corrupción del Gobierno de Roma, formando una banda de forajidos que pronto se convirtió en un mito. Hacia 1948, la creciente fama de Giuliano preocupa al Capo di Capi, Don Croce Malo, quien, bajo la apariencia de benevolencia, le tiende una trampa. Salvatore planea una vendetta contra Don Croce, asesinando a seis jefes de la Mafia local, lo que marca el inicio del fin de su banda. Los crímenes de Giuliano se convierten en un problema para el Gobierno, que crea Fuerzas Especiales para combatir el bandolerismo bajo el mando del Coronel Luca. En 1950, Michael envía un documento incriminatorio a Estados Unidos, con la esperanza de desenmascarar al ministro si Giuliano es asesinado. Sin embargo, las traiciones surgen dentro de la banda, y Pisciotta traiciona a su primo, quien termina muerto. Michael no puede hacer efectiva su amenaza de publicar el documento, ya que Don Vito ha negociado la salida de su hijo de la isla. Pisciotta muere en prisión, y en su bolsillo

The last don is Domenico Clericuzio, a wise and ruthless man who is determined to see his heirs established in legitimate society but whose vision is threatened when secrets from the family's past spark a vicious war between two blood cousins. This is a mesmerizing tale that takes us inside the equally corrupt worlds of the mob, the movie industry, and the casinos - where beautiful actresses and ruthless hit men are ruled by lust and violence, where sleazy producers and greedy studio heads are drunk with power, where crooked cops and desperate gamblers play dangerous games of betrayal, and where one man controls them all.

After a visit to the Vatican in 1983, Mario Puzo, renowned for his works like The Godfather, became captivated by Italy's charm, history, and cuisine, inspiring him to write a novel about it. Nearly two decades later, his final book, completed by longtime companion Carol Gino, offers a captivating fictional account of the notorious Borgia family during the late 15th century. This fast-paced narrative delves into the rise and fall of the Borgias, blending historical research with Puzo's signature storytelling. Cardinal Roderigo Borgia, a charismatic and duplicitous man, ascends to the papacy as Pope Alexander VI in 1492 amidst a backdrop of political intrigue and religious conflict. He is a devoted father to four children, two of whom become entangled in his relentless quest for power. His son Cesare evolves from a timid cardinal into a formidable military leader, while his daughter Lucrezia, both beautiful and cunning, becomes a key figure in the political landscape, entwined in complex relationships. As the Renaissance flourishes, the narrative features historical figures like Michelangelo, Machiavelli, and Leonardo da Vinci, though they sometimes feel more like background characters. While the story may not delve deeply into the Borgias' psyche, it remains an energetic tale filled with enthusiasm for its characters and setting. Puzo's final work is a passionate tribute to a rich cultural legacy.

Thirty-five years after Mario Puzo's iconic tale, the story continues with the years omitted from the original book and films. Set in 1955, Michael Corleone has triumphed in the brutal war among New York's crime families and seeks to consolidate his power while transitioning his family into legitimate businesses. To achieve this, he faces a formidable opponent, Nick Geraci, a former boxer turned Corleone enforcer, equally ruthless and cunning. Their escalating conflict from 1955 to 1962 significantly impacts the lives of America's most powerful criminals and their families. Key figures include Tom Hagen, the Corleone family's lawyer, who pursues a political career while safeguarding his brother; Francesca Corleone, who uncovers her family's hidden past; Don Louie Russo, the cunning head of the Chicago mob with ambitions against the Corleones; Peter Clemenza, the loyal underboss privy to Family secrets; and Ambassador M. Corbett Shea, a former bootlegger seeking to elevate his son politically. As Johnny Fontane rises in the music world, Kay Adams Corleone grapples with the truth about Michael, and Fredo’s mysterious death is finally explained within a larger, sinister context. Spanning New York, Washington, Las Vegas, and Cuba, this narrative explores America's mid-century criminal underworld and its ties to politics, law, and entertainment, enriching Puzo's legacy with new, unforgettable characters.