The Godfather

50th Anniversary Edition

By: Mario Puzo, Francis Ford Coppola - introduction, Anthony Puzo - note, Robert J. Thompson - afterword

Narrated by: Joe Mantegna, Anthony Puzo, Angelo Di Loreto

Length: 18 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION - WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION BY FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA

Mario Puzo's classic saga of an American crime family that became a global phenomenon - nominated as one of America's best-loved novels by PBS's The Great American Read.

With its brilliant and brutal portrayal of the Corleone family, The Godfather burned its way into our national consciousness. This unforgettable saga of crime and corruption, passion and loyalty continues to stand the test of time, as the definitive novel of the Mafia underworld.

A #1 New York Times bestseller in 1969, Mario Puzo's epic was turned into the incomparable film of the same name, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. It is the original classic that has been often imitated, but never matched. A tale of family and society, law and order, obedience and rebellion, it reveals the dark passions of human nature played out against a backdrop of the American dream.

With a Note from Anthony Puzo and an Afterword by Robert J. Thompson

©1969 Mario Puzo. Introduction © 2019 by Francis Ford Coppola. "Note from Anthony Puzo" used with permission of Anthony Puzo. Afterword © 2002 by Robert J. Thompson. (P)2011, 2019 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Simply a classic!

One of the best! A truly moving saga that was fantastic even though I had seen the movie. Much better than any of the sequels or imitations.

Outstanding!!!!

There is not one single aspect about this that I didn't enjoy. I bought the book many years ago but because of busy everyday mom life, I haven't been able to really dive into it. This gave me the chance to do so and I couldn't be happier. The narrator, the story, all of it. Sublime. A thousand times better than the movie and the movie is one of my favorites.

wow

What made the experience of listening to The Godfather the most enjoyable?

Its like having a movie in your head as you listen made days at work fly by

What did you like best about this story?

Narrator

What about Joe Mantegna’s performance did you like?

The accents and inflections of his voice for different character

Who was the most memorable character of The Godfather and why?

The Don of course

Any additional comments?

More

Classic cliche, Book always better than the movie

I've seen the movie so many times I stopped counting. I've enjoyed the book just as much. I thought some of the character storylines could have been saved. Nevertheless I found the book helpful in clarifying alot of storylines in the movie.

Drama at it's best

The GodFather is a Must Read for all Americans. It is essential because a part of our ethnic culture and capitalistic economy has grown through "The Family" known to outsiders as the Mafia. There is no justification for the illegal crime that the Mafia is known for. However, it is to our own best interest to understand a little of the history of the Mafia. To know how the Mafia grew to become what it was after WWII.
Mario Puzo knows how to keep the reader interested in every word as the plot thickens. The characters are very well developed. This audio book went by faster than most because it is full of action and drama.
Well done and I highly recommend The Godfather.

Find out what really happened!

What a really good book. The things that were left on the cutting room floor are still in the book. I had no idea how much they chopped up the book when the movie was made.
The story is just as good today as it ever was, and if you are looking for a quality story this is one from the history of America.
Well worth the credit and listening time.🔫

Engrossing but vulgar

Excellent reader. As for the book, I loved the character development, plot twists, and overall culture Puzo helps us understand (and even like, to some degree). It was engrossing in the best way and I can see why it was such a bestseller. I only took off 1 star because the writing was a little weak (“curt” on every page) and some of the Hollywood scenes were almost pornographic. If you can skip those parts, it is worth hearing the rest.

Timeless classic by a phenomenal narrator!

Timeless classic by a phenomenal narrator! Easy to understand, although imitation accents were spot on.

As awesome as ever

Joe Mantegna does an excellent job as narrator of this epic story. I read the book when it first came out and have seen the movie(s) several times. I come from an Italian heritage who lived in this era and vicinity so I consider myself an expert. I continues to ring true, plausible, exciting and mesmerizing especially with Mantegna's narration. Kudos once again to the late Puzo and to Mr. Mantegna.

Better than the movie!

What made the experience of listening to The Godfather the most enjoyable?

I have seen the movie so I had an idea what the story was about, but listening to the audio book I could keep up better. Also, having seen the movie it was like the images were running in my head as well.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Godfather?

The catalyst, when Sonny Corleone spoke out of turn at the "sit down" This one action set so many things into play. What he said, gave the other Don's the idea that he would go a different direction than his father Vito.

What about Joe Mantegna’s performance did you like?

It was dead on perfect!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes! I really started audiobooks for my commute, but I made every attempt to listen to this one all the time. I would pick this book over watching TV.

Any additional comments?

A great listen! If you love Mafia story's this is a must. The Corleone family is the most interesting of all mob families.