Chronicling the life of Italian immigrants in Depression-era New York, The Fortunate Pilgrim was published to rave reviews in 1965: The New York Times called it "a classic," and last year New York magazine said it "could have put Puzo on track to be the Italian Malamud or Henry Roth."

The Fortunate Pilgrim is the real birthplace of the Godfather. As Puzo says, the book's hero, Lucia Santa, is based on his own mother. And as he wrote what was to become the world's bestselling novel, "whenever the Godfather opened his mouth, in my own mind I heard the voice of my mother. I heard her wisdom, her ruthlessness, and her unconquerable love for her family and for life itself.... The Don's courage and loyalty came from her; his humanity came from her... and so, I know now, without Lucia Santa, I could not have written The Godfather."