The Fortunate Pilgrim

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Title The Fortunate Pilgrim
Author Mario Puzo
Country United States
Language English
Publisher
Released 1965
Media type Print (Hardback & Paperback) & Audio Book
Pages 544 pp (Paperback edition)
ISBN ISBN 0-449-00358-2 (Paperback editions)
Preceded by The Dark Arena
Followed by The Godfather

The Fortunate Pilgrim is a 1965 novel by Mario Puzo. It deals with the Angeluzzi-Corbos family, a family of immigrants living an adopted life in New York City. The head of the family is Lucia Santa, a wife, widow and mother of two families. It is her formidable will that steers them through the Great Depression and the early years of World War II. But she cannot prevent the conflict between Italian and American values, or the violence and bloodshed which must surely follow.

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: "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."