i was just wondering if the novel is based on any don in new yorks history??

if anyone knows it'd be a big help to me, thanks a lot

Welcome to the boards! I don't know the answer to your question but I thought that I'd be the first to welcome you. As for your question, there are a lot of smart people on these boards. Turnball would probably be the best person to answer your question.

Welcome to the boards, Corleoneisdon! This question comes up frequently. Here's my view:
Vito Corleone is a composite of several real-life Mafia Dons:
--In the novel, he defeats a rival whom he arranges to kill at a restaurant and who dies with a mouthful of bread. The dead gangster would be Joe The Boss Masseria, which would make Vito's character like Masseria's nemesis: Salvatore Maranzano, who won the Castellemmarese War of 1930-31.
--Vito's "the biggest importer of olive oil in the U.S." That makes his character like Joe Profaci, who was the biggest importer of olive oil in the U.S. (his family eventually became the Colombos).
--Vito has two capos, one who remains loyal (Clemenza), one who betrays his son (Tessio). That makes Vito like Joe Bonanno, whose capo, Frank Labruzzo, stayed loyal, and whose other capo, Gaspar DiGregorio, betrayed Joe and his son, Salvatore ("Bill").
--But the one Don whom Vito most resembles is Frank Costello, called "the chairman of the board" because of his pre-eminence among Mafiosi. Costello also was the biggest in gambling, and "had all the judges in New York in his pocket." He also retired after an unsuccessful attempt on his life.

Yeah, only Vito's assination attempt was a simple hit and run. Frank Costello's was intended to be that, but Vincent Gigante evidentally had better aim than he figured. The bullet Gigante fired burrowed into Costello's head, literally in one ear and out the other. Miraculousy, he survived, and subsequently retired. Just a little of my show off Mafia knowledge for ya

thanks a lot guys, appreciated

Also Vito resembles a new york gangster called ''the chin'' i don't know his real name. He once had an opperation on his voice box which gave him a croaky voice.