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October 12, 2003
Review: The mafia story again
WHEN critically acclaimed author and screenwriter Mario Puzo wrote The Godfather in 1969, his primary purpose was to make money. He’d previously written two highly praised books — The Dark Arena (1955) and The Fortunate Pilgrim (1964) — but desperately needed commercial and financial success to support his family. Finally, at age 48, he conceived the idea of a family mafia saga, believing it would have mass appeal. Having a fascination for the Renaissance family, the Borgias, he decided to write a modern day tale inspired by their lives. When The Godfather was released, it sold over 21 million copies and spent 67 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Puzo went on to write the award-winning screenplay for the movie and its two sequels. He wrote numerous other novels and the first two Superman screenplays, but did not see literary commercial success again until he returned to the theme of mafia families in 1996 with The Last Don, once again inspired by the Borgias, but this time about the Clerucuzio family instead of the Corleones.
During this period, Puzo had begun working on a fictional novel about the Borgias family itself. He spent over fifteen years drafting the novel, which he entitled simply The Family, and “Titanic” pin-up Leonardo DiCaprio was in negotiations to star in the film adaptation at the time of Puzo’s death in 1999. At that point, The Family was near completion. Puzo had reached the end of the story and had even written the epilogue. However, he had left some chapters unfinished. At Puzo’s deathbed request, his long-standing companion Carol Gina (The Nurse’s Story, Then an Angel Came) used his detailed notes and outline to complete the labour of love.
The novel chronicles the life of Pope Alexander VI (nie Rodrigo Borgia) and his illegitimate children Cesare, Lucrezia, Juan and Jofre. Loosely based on a true story, Puzo attempts to breathe life into these historical figures, while exposing the secrets of the Vatican just as he once uncovered the mysteries of the Mafia.
Puzo often described the Borgias as the “original crime family” and the “greatest crime family in Italian history”. He believed the Popes were the first Dons and Pope Alexander the greatest Don of all. Brilliant and ambitious, Alexander ruthlessly eliminates rivals and arranges noble and strategic marriages for his offspring. He uses his children as pawns as he works to restore glory to the Catholic Church and unify Italy. A devoted father, he keeps his children close, and once he is appointed Pope, attempts to manipulate their lives as he enjoys controlling everything around him.
His son Cesare is handsome and talented, and Alexander is determined his gifted son follow in his footsteps, despite Cesare’s own preference to be a warrior rather than a man of cloth. His daughter Lucrezia is the light and joy of Alexander’s life and is jointly cursed with Cesare by their father’s ambition. The other two sons, lusty Juan and murderously jealous Jofre, are more minor characters but have critical roles in the outcome of Alexander’s plans and in the undoing of the Borgias in a single generation. Throughout the novel, Puzo deftly crafted the family relationships so that by turns, each member is another’s friend and savior, as well as their greatest threat.
Unfortunately, this posthumous release fails to do justice to the author’s years of hard work, and does seem incomplete at times. Some chapters are lengthy and overdrawn, while others, especially toward the end, seem hastily written and awkwardly brief. Perhaps this is a reflection of the contribution of two different authors. However, the completed work is a fascinating look into the genesis of The Godfather and The Last Don.
There are especially numerous parallels to The Godfather saga and its Corleone family. Like Vito Corleone, Rodrigo Borgia is a ruthless, powerful family man who doesn’t hesitate to kill to protect his “family”. Cesare, like Michael Corleone, is successful in the military and Jofre, like Michael, has his own brother murdered. Similarly, the close friendship between Michael and Connie Corleone compares to the strong bond between Cesare and Lucrezia, although The Godfather siblings do not share an incestuous relationship.
Although clearly an ambitious effort, The Family lacks the complexity, originality and monumental impact of The Godfather series. Puzo throws in token cameos from Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo more for impact than for the storyline. Only Machiavelli has an interesting, pivotal role. At times more a soap opera than a serious examination of the dysfunctional Borgias, The Family has its moments but is essentially a limp historical romance and will unlikely be remembered years from now.
The Family
By Mario Puzo
Arrow. Available with Liberty Books (Pvt) Ltd, 3 Rafiq Plaza, M.R. Kayani Road, Saddar, Karachi
Tel: 021-5683026
Email: libooks@cyber.net.pk Website:
www.libertybooks.com
ISBN 0099464748
418pp. Rs395
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