The Godfather book series is a series of crime novels based on Italian-American mafia families, most particularly the fictional Corleone family, headed by Don Vito Corleone and later his son Michael Corleone. The Godfather, Mario Puzo's debut book, was published in 1969. It was turned into a three-film series, which became one of the most successful franchises in movie history.
The Sicilian, Puzo's second book, was published in 1984 and adapted into a movie in 1987 (without the Godfather themes). The following two books, The Godfather Returns and The Godfather's Revenge were written by Mark Winegardner and published in 2004 and 2006, respectively. Based on a draft script by Mario Puzo, Edward Falco created the fifth book, The Family Corleone, which also serves as a prequel to Puzo's first book. It came out in 2012.
List of books on The Godfather in chronological order
The Family Corleone (2012)
Ed Falco's 2012 book The Family Corleone is based on a script by Mario Puzo, who passed away in 1999, without completing it. It is the prequel to The Godfather by Puzo. It was released on May 8, 2012, and was published by Grand Central Publishing. Although it is the fifth and last book in the Godfather novel series, it is set in the past because it is a prequel.
The story, which takes place near the conclusion of Prohibition during the Great Depression, describes how Vito Corleone solidified his influence to become the most powerful Don in New York City. It also chronicles Tom Hagen's transition from being an adoptive member of the Corleone family to being the consigliere and Sonny Corleone's inauguration into the family company. Along with introducing several new characters, such as criminal leader Giuseppe Mariposa, the book also explains how Luca Brasi initially came to be linked with the Corleones.
The Godfather (1969)
Mario Puzo is the American author of the crime novel The Godfather. The novel, which was first published by G. P. Putnam's Sons on March 10, 1969, tells the tale of a fictional Mafia family in Long Island and New York City that is led by the Godfather Vito Corleone. The book tells Vito Corleone's backstory from early childhood to adulthood and spans the years 1945–1955.
The Sicilian (1984)
Mario Puzo wrote the book The Sicilian. Based on the life of Sicilian bandit Salvatore Giuliano, it was published by Random House Publishing Group in 1984 (ISBN 0-671-43564-7). It includes characters from Puzo's most well-known novel, The Godfather (1969), and takes place in the same universe. The second book in the Godfather novel series is considered to be the literary sequel to The Godfather.
Puzo purposefully changed the spelling of Salvatore Giuliano's name to "Guiliano" in this book. Despite being a work of fiction, this book is based on Giuliano's actual adventures.
The Godfather Returns (2004)
Author Mark Winegardner's book, The Godfather Returns, was released in 2004. It is the follow-up to The Godfather (1969) by Mario Puzo and The Sicilian (1984). Following Puzo's death, Winegardner was chosen by Random House, the publisher, to write a sequel.
Although Returns covers the years 1955 to 1962 and contains an important backdrop on Michael Corleone's life before the first novel, the first novel spanned the years 1945 to 1955 and contained an important backstory on Don Vito Corleone's life. It is the third book in the Godfather book series. Additionally, it was released as The Godfather: The Lost Years.
The Godfather’s Revenge (2006)
Author Mark Winegardner's 2006 book The Godfather's Revenge is the follow-up to his 2004 book The Godfather Returns. It comes last in chronological order and is the fourth book in the Godfather novel series.
The story continues where The Godfather Returns left off, and it takes place between 1963 and 1964. The novel addresses Michael Corleone's remorse for the things that happened in The Godfather Part II, especially his order to kill his brother Fredo. Subplots include organized crime's conflict with a presidential family, the Shea family, which is similar to the Kennedy family, Tom Hagen's involvement in a murder, and Nick Geraci's preparations for retaliation against the Corleones.
FAQs about The Godfather
There are five books in The Godfather novel series.
Yes, Francis Ford Coppola's three American crime films, The Godfather trilogy, are based on Italian American author Mario Puzo's 1969 book of the same name.
The chronological order to read The Godfather books is as follows: The Family Corleone (2012), The Godfather (1969), The Sicilian (1984), The Godfather Returns (2004) and The Godfather’s Revenge (2006).
