I was speaking to a professor of Italian at the university I work at, and he told me that the first article he ever had published was about the GF book.

One thing that he pointed out to me was the meaning of Bonasera's name. His full name was Amerigo Bonasera, which means "Goodnight, America." This is supposedly in reference to the fact that they are saying goodbye to the honest method of justice (calling the police and having the courts take care of things) and having the mafia take justice into their own hands.

Has anyone else heard this before?

I'm trying to get ahold of his article. He said he wrote it in the mid-70s. If I get it I'll try to post a link to it or something.

wow, that's an interesting tidbit. no, i have not heard of it, but this metaphor does attest to the genius of Mario Puzo.

A very interesting theory. But the cart is before the horse. "Amerigo" was an Italian name before there was an "America." Our nation was named after Amerigo Vespucci, a Florentine navigator in the service of the Medicis, who received support from King Ferdinand of Castile for an exploratory voyage to the New World; and who, in 1497, sailed along most of the North American coast. "Bonasera" also is a common Sicilian surname. I found it somewhat significant that Bonasera, "Mr. Goodnight," has, as his life's work, putting people in their final resting places.

In my Year 10 History Exam I remembered Amerigo Vespucci's name because of Amerigo Bonasera, thank god for the Godfather

That's interesting, did you know Corleone means "Heart of Lion"? I wonder what Luca Brasi means?

I had to do a report on Amerigo Vespucci in the 5th grade.

I always noticed the Bonasera thing and how it was similar to "buona sera". But I never knew about the Goodnight America thing. Thanx Corpuzzi.