This is the book that started the legacy. "The GodFather" is a master piece written by American author Mario Puzo. Two sequels
followed The Godfather, The Godfather Part II and The Godfather Part III .Mario Puzo has here created an extraordinary novel; it pulsates with dramatic and evil incident, brute rage, and the naked terror of an infamous underworld. Puzo takes us inside the violence-infested society of the Mafia and its gang wars. He shows us its trials by gunfire and torture and the nature of Mafia friendship. The Godfather is essentially the story of a man and his power, and it is a reading experience one is not likely to forget.The story deals with the raise of Vito Corleone and their traditional behavoiur code and honour system and the violent power struggle among rival families.In Don Corleone, Mario Puzo brings to life one of the the truly great protagonists of a modern novel. The mafia dealings are not a vital component of the story, often just referred to as "family business".It is very difficult not to admire the power of the Godfather as well as his devotion to his family, and one can but sympathise with Michael as he tries to step into his father''''s shoes, finding that they simply do not fit.Mario puzo is a master story teller and unwraps the suspense and explodes in a series of dramatic climaxes.The Godfather films are excellent but the book fleshes out the characters in a way a film never can.The story shows a great knowledge of the American mafia without glorifying it.Not only the finest novel by far, but fiction''''s finest gangster story.While The Godfather Part I is in my opinion by far the best part of the trilogy, the book eclipses even that.This is a great book whether you''''re a fan of the film or not.It is so readable that once you start you cannot put it down. I would recommend this great novel to anyone even if they have no interest in crime novels generally, it is an exceptional book.