In the book, in the earlier days when Vito is rising up in the underworld, he goes to war with Salvatore Maranzano. At first he offers him a deal, but Maranzano, being an old mustache pete, refuses. Maranzano enlists the help of The Capones from Chicago, but after Vito Corleone makes the Capones an offer of friendship, they step aside. Eventually some of Maranzano's men come over to Vito's side and they set up Maranzano, in a restaurant and four Corleone gunman come in while Maranzano is having dinner and blast him full of bullets!

It's interesting how Puzo uses a real life Don in Salvatore Maranzano, intertwines him with the fictional character of Vito Corleone, throws in The Capones from Chicago and then has Maranzano killed in the same manner that his real life rival Joe " The Boss" Masseria was murdered; eating in a restaurant when 4 gunman burst in and riddled him full of bullets.


Don Cardi

That is interesting. I love it when authors do that. Make a fine blend to add idea, to reality.

Not only that, but Joe Da Boss Masseria was the one who reached for Capone to help him in his war with the Castellammarese, under Maranzano.
Another good one in the novel: Vito is described as spending hours trying to persuade a notoriously murderous, hot-headed gangster to give up his gratuitious violence. Finally, Vito throws up his hands and says, "But no one can reason with this fellow." The fellow is later executed in his favorite barber chair. Sound like someone familiar, as in the Mad Hatter?

Thats what I like about Mario Puzo...

Yeah, it was a very interesting part of the book. It really showed how big he was become, fighting with Maranzano, and telling Capone to shut up.

I like that mix too. But I think some facts are too well known to mess around with. For one, Capone went to prison in 1932, so I'm not sure what Capones Puzo is referring to when he talks about the great war of 1933.

By the way, he misspelled cafone and put an "s" on one spelling of pezzonovanti. Editing should have caught that.

I always thought Puzo made a mistake. I thought he confused Masseria and Maranzano, but he did it on purpose.... I keep underrestimating that great man