The Godfather: The Lost Years

The acclaimed sequel, authorised by Mario Puzo's Estate, to the bestselling The Godfather.

Brought to you by Penguin. 
 
 
'The bloody victory of the Corleone Family was not complete,' begins the final chapter of Mario Puzo's The Godfather, 'until a year of delicate manoeuvring established Michael Corleone as the most powerful Family chief in the United States.' 
 
The Godfather: The Lost Years takes place in the years 1955-65, but it is built upon the story of that 'year of delicate political manoeuvring' - and how, in winning the battle of that year, Michael Corleone set the stage to lose the war: the war to make the Family legitimate, the war to keep the Corleones supremely in power, the war to stay true to his father's wishes, the war to give not just his Family but his family a safe and happy life. 
 
The Godfather: The Lost Years is not just a sequel. A magnificent novel in its own right, by an acclaimed young American novelist, it traces the nexus of ambitious, audacious decisions that Michael Corleone implements, their ultimate failure, and, after the Family's literal and figurative years in the wilderness (of Las Vegas), Michael's literal, physical return to New York, and his attempts to regain control there. 
 
 
© Mark Winegardner 2004 (P) Penguin Audio 2005

He (Winegardner) has done an excellent job and, though he is standing on the shoulders of a giant, The Lost Years is in some respects an improvement on its model

The Godfather Returns is not only a real book by a real writer. It's also a real pleasure, a fine, swirling epic - bitter, touching, funny and true ... Winegardner has not squandered his inheritance

The measure of his success is quickly apparent ... he brilliantly recreates the vivid, pungent prose style of Puzo's original

Mark Winegardner is the author of two acclaimed novels: The Veracruz Blues and Crooked River Burning.

'The bloody victory of the Corleone Family was not complete,' begins the final chapter of Mario Puzo's The Godfather, 'until a year of delicate manoeuvring established Michael Corleone as the most powerful Family chief in the United States.' 
 
The Godfather: The Lost Years takes place in the years 1955-65, but it is built upon the story of that 'year of delicate political manoeuvring' - and how, in winning the battle of that year, Michael Corleone set the stage to lose the war: the war to make the Family legitimate, the war to keep the Corleones supremely in power, the war to stay true to his father's wishes, the war to give not just his Family but his family a safe and happy life. 
 
The Godfather: The Lost Years is not just a sequel. A magnificent novel in its own right, by an acclaimed young American novelist, it traces the nexus of ambitious, audacious decisions that Michael Corleone implements, their ultimate failure, and, after the Family's literal and figurative years in the wilderness (of Las Vegas), Michael's literal, physical return to New York, and his attempts to regain control there.

Mark Winegardner

Praise for The Godfather: The Lost Years 
He (Winegardner) has done an excellent job and, though he is standing on the shoulders of a giant, The Lost Years is ... an improvement on its model

[The Godfather; The Lost Years] is not only a real book by a real writer. It's also a real pleasure, a fine, swirling epic - bitter, touching, funny and true ... Winegardner has not squandered his inheritance

Everything it should be. [Readers] probably won't be able to put this one down

The story has achieved cult status with millions of fans who continue to read it

It is 1963 in New York, and things have never been better for the Corleones. They've taken out their Mafia rivals, and legitimised the Family. Outside the fortified building owned by Michael Corleone, newly undisputed Boss of Bosses, a parade of people - among them former mob rivals and an emissary from the Mayor of New York - wait to ask the great man for favours. 
 
Only one thing remains to be done. Traitorous former Corleone capo Nick Geraci has powerful friends and far too much to say, and needs to be brought in. But then everything changes. As fireworks explode over First Avenue, news arrives that Jimmy Shea, President of the United States and an old friend of the Corleone's, has been assassinated...

Mark Winegardner

Praise for The Godfather's Revenge

Praise for The Godfather: The Lost Years
He (Winegardner) has done an excellent job and, though he is standing on the shoulders of a giant, The Lost Years is ... an improvement on its model

[The Godfather; The Lost Years] is not only a real book by a real writer. It's also a real pleasure, a fine, swirling epic - bitter, touching, funny and true ... Winegardner has not squandered his inheritance

The measure of his success is quickly apparent ... he brilliantly recreates the vivid, pungent prose style of Puzo's original

Praise for The Godfather: The Lost Years
He (Winegardner) has done an excellent job and, though he is standing on the shoulders of a giant, The Lost Years is ... an improvement on its model

[The Godfather; The Lost Years] is not only a real book by a real writer. It's also a real pleasure, a fine, swirling epic - bitter, touching, funny and true ... Winegardner has not squandered his inheritance

The measure of his success is quickly apparent ... he brilliantly recreates the vivid, pungent prose style of Puzo's original

Praise for The Godfather: The Lost Years
He (Winegardner) has done an excellent job and, though he is standing on the shoulders of a giant, The Lost Years is ... an improvement on its model

[The Godfather; The Lost Years] is not only a real book by a real writer. It's also a real pleasure, a fine, swirling epic - bitter, touching, funny and true ... Winegardner has not squandered his inheritance

The measure of his success is quickly apparent ... he brilliantly recreates the vivid, pungent prose style of Puzo's original

Books by Mark Winegardner

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Praise for The Godfather's Revenge

Praise for The Godfather: The Lost Years He (Winegardner) has done an excellent job and, though he is standing on the shoulders of a giant, The Lost Years is ... an improvement on its model

[The Godfather; The Lost Years] is not only a real book by a real writer. It's also a real pleasure, a fine, swirling epic - bitter, touching, funny and true ... Winegardner has not squandered his inheritance

The measure of his success is quickly apparent ... he brilliantly recreates the vivid, pungent prose style of Puzo's original

Praise for The Godfather: The Lost Years He (Winegardner) has done an excellent job and, though he is standing on the shoulders of a giant, The Lost Years is ... an improvement on its model

[The Godfather; The Lost Years] is not only a real book by a real writer. It's also a real pleasure, a fine, swirling epic - bitter, touching, funny and true ... Winegardner has not squandered his inheritance

The measure of his success is quickly apparent ... he brilliantly recreates the vivid, pungent prose style of Puzo's original

Praise for The Godfather: The Lost Years He (Winegardner) has done an excellent job and, though he is standing on the shoulders of a giant, The Lost Years is ... an improvement on its model

[The Godfather; The Lost Years] is not only a real book by a real writer. It's also a real pleasure, a fine, swirling epic - bitter, touching, funny and true ... Winegardner has not squandered his inheritance

The measure of his success is quickly apparent ... he brilliantly recreates the vivid, pungent prose style of Puzo's original

Books by Mark Winegardner

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter

Praise for The Godfather: The Lost Years
He (Winegardner) has done an excellent job and, though he is standing on the shoulders of a giant, The Lost Years is ... an improvement on its model

Praise for The Godfather: The Lost Years
He (Winegardner) has done an excellent job and, though he is standing on the shoulders of a giant, The Lost Years is ... an improvement on its model

Praise for The Godfather: The Lost Years
He (Winegardner) has done an excellent job and, though he is standing on the shoulders of a giant, The Lost Years is ... an improvement on its model