Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial

Hardcover
$20.01

Paperback
$8.04

Buy used: $8.04

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime

FREE delivery Monday, January 22 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35

Select delivery location

Used: Good | Details

Sold by tLighthouse Books

Fulfilled by Amazon

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.

Follow the authors

The Family Paperback – September 3, 2002

by Mario Puzo (Author), Carol Gino (Author)

4.4 893 ratings

Part of: The Family (1 books)

See all formats and editions

“Dazzling, passionate, a masterwork that ranks with Puzo’s best.”
—Nicholas Pileggi, author of Wiseguys

“One of his most satisfying works….A thoroughly entertaining posthumous present from one of the masters of popular fiction.”
—Booklist

Mario Puzo’s final masterwork. A sweeping epic saga of corruption, greed, treachery, and sin, The Family is the ultimate crowning achievement of the #1 New York Times bestselling novelist who gave the world The Godfather, arguably the greatest Mafia crime novel ever written. In The Family, Puzo—whom the Washington Post calls, “A serious American talent”—plunges reader into the colorful tumult of the Italian Renaissance, immersing them in the roiling intrigues and deadly affairs of the remarkable family whose name has always been synonymous with power, corruption, poison, and murder: the infamous Borgias.

From the Back Cover

"We are a family," Alexander told his children. "And the loyalty of the family must come before everything and everyone else. For if we honor that commitment, we will never be vanquished -- but if we falter in that loyalty, we will all be condemned."

About the Author

Mario Puzo was the author of the international bestseller The Godfather and cowrote the screenplays for the Academy Award-winning trio of films based on the book. Puzo's other books include The Last Don and Omerta, both New York Times bestsellers.

Part of series

The Family
Print length

418 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Avon Books
Publication date

September 3, 2002
Dimensions

4.19 x 1.08 x 6.75 inches
ISBN-10

0061032425
ISBN-13

978-0061032424
See all details

Mario Puzo
5,285
Mass Market Paperback
109 offers from $1.58
Mario Puzo
593
Mass Market Paperback
88 offers from $1.15
Ed Falco
1,986
Mass Market Paperback
59 offers from $1.30
Mario Puzo
566
Mass Market Paperback
33 offers from $1.25
Mark Seal
2,344
Hardcover
69 offers from $8.32
Mario Puzo
135
Paperback
65 offers from $1.09

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Avon Books; First Edition (September 3, 2002)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 418 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0061032425
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0061032424
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.19 x 1.08 x 6.75 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #5,725,764 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #23,999 in Historical Thrillers (Books)
- #193,608 in Literary Fiction (Books)
- #226,001 in American Literature (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.4 893 ratings

Important information

To report an issue with this product or seller, click here.

About the authors

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Mario Puzo
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.
Mario Gianluigi Puzo (/ˈpuːzoʊ/; Italian: [ˈmaːrjo ˈpuddzo]; October 15, 1920 – July 2, 1999) was an American author, screenwriter and journalist. He is known for his crime novels about the Mafia, most notably The Godfather (1969), which he later co-adapted into a three-part film saga directed by Francis Ford Coppola. He received the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for the first film in 1972 and Part II in 1974. Puzo also wrote the original screenplay for the 1978 Superman film. His last novel, The Family, was released posthumously in 2001.
Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
See more on the author's page
Carol Gino
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.
New York Times bestselling author, Carol Gino, RN, MA, was one of the first to reveal the secrets about what happens behind the closed doors of hospitals, from her first-hand perspective as a nurse for over 30 years. In her blockbuster expose about the healthcare industry (masked as a story), The Nurses Story unleashed a Pandora’s box and exposed the heart as well as the darkest indignities that Nurses and patients have lived with for centuries. As a nurse, author, and teacher for over 30 years. She has worked in all areas of Nursing including ER, Intensive Care, Burn Unit, Surgery, Pediatrics, and Hospice Care. Her Masters in Transpersonal Studies focused on new modalities for healing, changes in consciousness, and cross-cultural healing. Carol is the author or co-author of over 8 books, including Los Angeles Times and New York Times bestsellers. She has created several products and online programs for Nurses, Writers and those seeking balance in their lives. Carol was the longtime companion of the author, Mario Puzo for over 20 years, until his death in 1999, and in 2001 she completed his book The Family, which was published by Judith Regan of Harper Collins. It was a best seller.
Her latest book, a memoir titled, Me and Mario - Love, Power & Writing with Mario Puzo, author of The Godfather, offers an intimate look into the man and the myth and the magic between them. Often funny—sometimes raw—always true. It’s a journey of love, friendship and playful competition that pushed them both in life and writing. It was a creative partnership that spanned 2 decades. Filled with Puzo’s tips on storytelling, fellow authors and writers-to-be will love this inside-look into the mind and art of a legendary author and the woman he chose to challenge and love for over twenty years.
See more on the author's page

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5

893 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Sort reviews by

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

PJM

Good job

Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2023

Verified Purchase

Fast and efficient service. Book in excellent condition. thanks.

Helpful

Casie Sherwin

A fun read with some personal touches

Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2013

Verified Purchase

I am a huge fan of this era's histories. The Borgia Family has captivated me recently. This book may have some different views on who did what and Lucrezia's innocence in the family scandals, but it is a fun read with great description and a touch of historical goodies, just to say he did a little bit of research for this book about one of histories 1st Mafia families.

Helpful

Carmine

Italian Doesn't Mean Mafia

Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2020

Verified Purchase

This book is an Italian crime novel that Puzo writes so well but it is not in this century or among the regular citizens. This story is based in Italy but it is about families and the Roman Catholic Church and those parts of the Italian culture. The Family is not as good, or even close, to the Godfather but it is comparable to The Family Corleone. It is amazing how many novels Mario Puzo got out of Vito Corleone and his kin! Vito is the better syndicate figure in my humble opinion!

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Mike J

The quality of a book is with the reader

Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2022

Verified Purchase

It's a paperback book and that is pretty basic. The story is what you are buying and if you are a fan of the author you won't be disappointed

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Diana Faillace Von Behren

Disjointed Tale of Borgia Family

Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2002

Verified Purchase

In Ms Gino's afterward, she tells us that Mario Puzo toyed with writing a novel about the Borgia's for over 20 years. Unfortunately he completed many of the novel's vignettes, but he failed to pull them all together with a central theme or motiff that would have made the story as fantastically memorable as it should have been.

In keeping with Puzo's fascination with the Mafia, the Borgias are packaged and marketed as the first 'crime' family. Indeed, their exploits, motivated by the desire to unite the Papal States during the early 1500s, call to mind the savage deeds sanctioned by the Cosa Nostra---all in the name of family. However only parts of this novel really sparkle with Puzo's usual sitting-round-the-table storytelling technique. Only portions of the story are told in any great detail--I got the feeling that Puzo dug into these portions with great interest, but sadly never had the time to pull the entire thing together to make it more a solid work rather than a series of incidents tied together to form a novel fit for publication.

If the forbidden love between Lucretzia and Cesare was such a motivatior in the participants' lives, it should have been a more important motiff that made sense of some of the character's actions. We are told over and over again that Pope Alexander, as head of the family, was a man of many sensual appetites, but there should have been more concrete detailed examples of this. What in reality was probably audacious and unbelievably flamboyant becomes reduced to a flatness I don't think the author intended.

I think what could have been an exciting novel about some of history's most wicked scoundrels--Cesare Borgia was said to be the model for Macchiavelli's 'the Prince'--- simply was not finished in time. The author never had the chance to piece the story together in the way that would have made a bigger impact. A real shame.

9 people found this helpful

Helpful

Nicoletta

Murder, dastardly deeds, blood letting, dungeons and other lovely stuff .....

Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2013

Verified Purchase

Mario Puzo has taken the story of the Borgia's and woven a wonderful tale. Each event is a bit more startling than the next. Although I thought the beginning was a bit slow, the momentum increased as we found out the dastardly deeds of each family member. (Of course, by today's standards of thought about incest and abuse within the home, we might possibly take a different view of Lucrezia these days.) This book is a good read, gains momentum as it goes and gives us a look into the lives of the privileged families of Italy long before the kingdoms were united. I've read several books about the Borgias and this one was the most fun - bringing the characters to life. If you love reading about historical life in Italy, read this book. The question is - did Jofre really do it?

4 people found this helpful

Helpful

Older Critic

BORING

Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2021

BORING

Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2011

Verified Purchase

This is the second time I have purchased this book. Every time I lend it to a friend, I end-up having to buy another copy. My friends have borrowed this book from me, and it has traveled half-way around the world! It is a very good and interesting read. It is based on a true story, and I like Mario Puzo's writing style. The Borgia's, which is the family this book is based on, have a corrupt climb up the ladder towards success. Now, there is also the Borgia DVD edition. Like most movies, not all details can be portrait. I highly recommend this book. It is one that you will have a hard time putting down, until you have finished reading it! Enjoy!!!!

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English

RP

Good Quality

Reviewed in India on October 28, 2023

Verified Purchase

Duncan Tembo

The Borgias Family

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 16, 2023

Verified Purchase

This is a good read for anybody who wants to know more about The Mafia and its origins.It is shocking to most people to learn the Pope Alexander of the Borgias family started the Mafia crime group and this has run in for centuries.
Don Alexander had three sons and a daughter.He used them to consolidate his power as a pope to control the Catholic church and other Catholic states.He married them off to offerings children to maintain power.To acoustic only daughter giving her allegiance to nervousness he made Secera( his first born son )sleep with his sister.Juan ( his second son ) was murdered by his young brother Joefrey for sleeping with his wife.Jofrey finally killed his father Pope Alexander for trying to superstardom from his wife.After all this he ended up as Cardinal in the church.He was caught have been born stupid and everybody grateful as an invalid.

Douglas

The family

Reviewed in Canada on October 20, 2012

Verified Purchase

Not to be confused with Mario Puzo's other family, this story is about deceipt, corruption, the quest for power under Pope Alexander. It is historical fiction of the Borgia family and its a very fast moving interesting story with a cast of historical figures. It was Puzo's last work and was finished by his cowriter/editor, female friend. If you have watched the BORGIAs television program starring Jeremy Irons, you will find certain historical leeway and divergent plot lines. But the basic historical story is there. Its the 15 century Godfather story dressed in papal robes.

pillars

内容がスカスカ

Reviewed in Japan on January 1, 2015

Verified Purchase

各イベントの細部の描写が無かったり、場面転換が唐突過ぎることが多すぎる。本来なら、この数倍のボリュームになるほどの内容を一冊に要約した感じ。

作者が死の間際まで書き続けていて、最後は別人の手で仕上げられた作品だということなので、作品を書くエネルギーが十分に残っていなかったのだろうと思う。

内容がスカスカというのを別にしても、魅力に富むキャラクターも登場せず、さして面白い話ではなかった。身勝手な人間たちが相応の末路を辿るというだけの話。「ゴッドファーザー」と同じ作者が書いたとは信じ難いほどつまらない。

Mario Puzo の作品で面白いのは、「ゴッドファーザー」以外では、Fortunate Pilgrim と Fools Die ぐらい。 Last Don とか Omerta（読んだっけ？）もいまいち。 The Fourth K に至っては作者のヒトの価値を評価する際の基準（美しく、賢く、強い）が登場人物にあまりにも安直に反映されている（The Family にも共通する欠点）のに嫌気が差して読むのを止めた（破って捨てた）。

Mario Puzo は「ゴッドファーザー」だけが飛び抜けて面白い。他の作品との落差が不思議でならない。

Translate review to English