a #1 New York Times bestseller. A classic american crime novel. An offer you can t refuse... Since its first publication in 1969， Mario Puzo s epic The Godfather has earned a permanent place in the American psyche and culture. In this story of family， loyalty， and the men who rule the American underworld， Puzo introduced a cast of singularly crafted characters， and offered an unforgettable look into the world of organized crime no writer has been able to duplicate since.