B'day Special: Mario Puzo, the author best remembered for his mafia-centric novels

Mario Puzo the unforgettable man who introduced us to the world of Italian - American mafias, Don Corleone, Michael and Sunny. Puzo in his own way defined “family, loyalty, and how "men of honor" live in their own world, and die by their own laws”. The American novelist who created the Godfather saga celebrates his birthday today.Though he has departed from earth, he lives through his mind boggling books that are yet widely read. He once called himself 'a romantic writer with sympathy for evil'Let us know more about Mario Puzo, one of the greatest authors of his time:Puzo was born to a humble family from Avellino, Naples on October 15, 1920 in Hell's Kitchen in New York.He was yet a teenager when his father deserted his mother. So she took him along with her six other children to settle in Bronx. Life was difficult for the family but his mother struggled to provide them with basic necessities. She wanted him to become a rail road clerk. But Puzo's heart was in literature. Hence he consumed his time glued to books in government libraries.He graduated from Commerce High School and worked as a railroad switchboard attendant to support his family, soon after which he was stationed in Germany and East India during World War II while serving for the US Air Force.He also served as a civilian public relations man for the Air Force in Germany after the war.When he returned to the US, he went back to study literature. He got himself enrolled in New School for Social Research and Columbia University so that he could practice creative writing.While he was in Germany, he met a beautiful girl by the name of Erika Lina Broske. They fell in love and a couple of years after he returned US, he asked her hand in marriage. Puzo and Erika married in 1946.The couple gave birth to two daughters and three sons. After over thirty years of their marriage, Erika died due to prolonged illness. During the days of her illness, Puzo had hired Carol Guna, a nurse, to tender to her needs. After Erika's death in 1978, she became his future companion.Mario Puzo began writing stories in High School. While he was working for the Army he wrote his first novel “The Last Christmas” that was published by the American Vanguard in 1950. This was Puzo's first published work. Then he wrote Dark Arena that was published in 1955. Nine years later he published “The Fortunate Pilgrim”.Both his books won him critical appraisal but failed in the front of helping him financially.Meanwhile he worked as a freelance writer. n 1960 Bruce Jay Friedman, an eminent author hired him as an assistant editor of Men's magazine. Puzo wrote action stories in those magazines.Mario Puzo's craved to write a bestseller that would earn him decent revenue. His unrelenting optimism helped him reach the mark. His first bestseller was published in 1969, that gave him not just enough revenue but also etched his name in the history of world's one of the most renowned authors.The ‘Godfather' was indeed a huge success. It remained on The New York Times bestsellers list for sixty-seven weeks establishing Puzo as one of the greatest writers in the world. The success made way for two sequels, The Godfather II and The Godfather III.The saga was adapted to screen by director, Francis Ford Coppola which made The Godfather a worldwide phenomenon.Puzo's joy was beyond words when his paperback rights to the book were sold for $410000. He excitedly rang up his mother and told her about it. She was so thrilled and at the same time unsure that she had heard the incorrect amount. Puzo had to repeat to to her several times before she believed and added “Don't tell nobody”.Puzo went on to write the screenplay for the Godfather movies and bagged two Academy Awards for the same. Puzo has also written screenplays on others films like Eathrquake, Superman, Supermn II and The Cotton Club.In 1978 he wrote Fools Die which too was a success. The book was based on gambling in Las Vegas.Then he continued writing books that were themed around the Godfather. The Sicilian and Last Don were commercially successful. The later was turned into a six-hour television mini-series.Mario Puzo's descriptions in his books seemed so real that Puzo was questioned about his acquaintances with the mafias. Because of his insights into crime and crime families, it was assumed that Mr. Puzo wrote from firsthand experience. One of the oddities of his career is that when it came to the Mafia, he was very much an outsider.He once said, ''I'm ashamed to admit that I wrote 'The Godfather' entirely from research. I never met a real honest-to-God gangster. I knew the gambling world pretty good, but that's all.''In one of Mario Puzo's books, he has written “A man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man.”True to his words, Puzo spent a lot of quality time with his beloved wife and children. He was an affectionate man.The impression that one gets is that he has written all his books with an unexplainable personal touch. A teenager deprived of father's love seeks in through Don Corleone.He sees his mother perform the role of a father and mother. In a preface to a new edition of his second novel, ''The Fortunate Pilgrim,'' Mr. Puzo said that his mother was the model for Don Corleone, the Godfather''Whenever the Godfather opened his mouth,'' he wrote, ''in my own mind I heard the voice of my mother.''In his personal life, Puzo was known to be a thorough gentleman. He was extremely modest. In an interview with Time Times in 1997, Puzo said, “I fancy myself an Italian peasant who's living comfortably on his little farm”.He died at the age of 78 on July 2, 1999 in West Bay Shore, New York. His departure came as a brutal blow to the word who adored the man for his wonderful fiction that kept people engaged. Puzo had a wonderful message hidden behind his gory description of crime and the criminal world.His messages were mostly of peace, friendship, love and loyalty. Right before his death he managed to complete his last book “Omerta”.Mario Puzo is survived his five children, all of whom live in Long Island and Dorothy of Los Angeles and Carol.Many of Mario Puzo's quotes have been adopted by the American society as clichés.The following are just a few out of those many:Great men are not born great, they grow greatNever hate your enemies It affects your judgmentRevenge is a dish that tastes best when served coldA friend should always underestimate your virtues and an enemy overestimate your faultsA man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real manNever get angry Never make a threat Reason with people Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer Falling in love is great but being in love is a disaster I have always believed helping your fellow man is profitable in every sense, personally and bottom lineThe only wealth in this world is children, more than all the money, power on earthFriendship and money: oil and water