The Godfather, Mario Puzo's 1969 masterpiece, chronicles the rise of the Corleone crime family in postwar New York. At its heart is Don Vito Corleone, a powerful mafia boss who rules his empire through loyalty, honor, and fear. After an assassination attempt leaves the aging Don fighting for his life, his youngest son Michael—a war hero determined to remain legitimate—is drawn into the family business. As violence erupts among rival families, Michael transforms from reluctant outsider into a ruthless leader who succeeds his father. A sweeping tale of power, betrayal, and the dark side of the American dream, the novel redefined crime fiction.
