From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Sicilian is a novel written by American author Mario Puzo and published in 1984 by Random House Publishing Group (ISBN 0-671-43564-7). It is based on Puzo's most famous work, The Godfather, and is regarded as its literary sequel.
[edit] Plot summary
Set in 1950, at the end of Michael Corleone's two-year exile in Sicily it is focused on the story of a legendary Sicilian bandit named Salvatore Giuliano and his run-ins with the local Capo di Capi, Don Croce Malo. Michael has been told by his father Vito that he must escort Giuliano safely back to America with him.
The novel's plot is based on the supposedly real-life exploits of a Sicilian bandit named Salvatore Giuliano.
[edit] Characters in The Sicilian
These are the principal characters that drive the plot of the story, many of whom are based on real-life figures.
- Salvatore Giuliano – A legendary bandit. Conceived in America and born in the small Sicilian village of Montelepre, Salvatore Giuliano is a tall and handsome young man living a relatively normal life for the first twenty years of his life, loved dearly by his friends and family and the inhabitants of his tiny village, who know him affectionately as their "Turi". A day after the end of the local annual festival, however, while smuggling food and drink to prepare for the wedding of his sister, Giuliano and his childhood friend, Aspanu Pisciotta, are accosted by the corrupt Italian police, the caribinieri, and after being shot by a sergeant, Giuliano kills the sergeant with a single shot from his pistol. Helped by Pisciotta, the severely injured Giuliano is taken to the nearby monastery, where the primary priest, Abbot Manfriedi, shields him from the caribinieri, and is soon healed back to full health by a doctor and the priests of the monastery. After leaving the monastery, Giuliano dedicates his life to being a bandit, and creates a band, living the next few years forming a legendary reputation all over Italy for his daring exploits in stealing from the rich and wealthy and in giving almost all of his earnings to the poor and underprivileged peasants of Sicily, who honor him as their hero. As his reputation and exploits increases, he is hunted both by the Italian government, who form a special taskforce to capture him, and the Mafia, headed by the Capo Di Capi, Don Croce Malo, whose interests and influence have been severely damaged by Giuliano and his band.
- Michael Corleone – The son of the famed Vito Corleone and heir to the Corleone family. Spending a two-year exile in Sicily, Michael is eager to return home to his family in New York, but is told by his father, Vito, to escort Turi Giuliano safely back to America with him. As he learns more about the reputation and exploits of the legendary Giuliano, Michael becomes extremely intrigued to meet him.
- Don Croce Malo – The extremely powerful Capo Di Capi who wields power not only in the entire island of Sicily but also in Rome and with the Italian government. A legendary negotiator, Don Croce quickly rises to the head of the Mafia and early into Turi Giuliano's career, is eager to make Giuliano the heir to his Mafia empire, but is unable to do so, due to Giuliano's deep hatred of the Mafia. As Giuliano's daring exploits increase and after Giuliano assassinates six prominent Mafia leaders and severely damages his interests, Don Croce takes the decision to kill Giuliano.
- Gaspare "Aspanu" Pisciotta – The childhood friend and cousin of Salvatore Giuliano. A sly, thin and handsome young man, suffering from tuberculosis, Aspanu Pisciotta was the closest and most trusted friend of Turi Giuliano, who trusted him with his life. As Giuliano's fame and reputation increases, Pisciotta gradually feels less and less significant and after much of his advice is ignored by Giuliano, Pisciotta is approached by Don Croce, who convinces him to betray his childhood friend Turi Giuliano.
- Hector Adonis – Professor of Literature in the University of Palermo and godfather to Turi Giuliano. A diminutive man, Adonis is an elegantly-dressed and extremely intelligent academic, who commands influence amongst the Mafia. He loved and cared for his godson Giuliano, whom he taught literature in his childhood and for whom he often brought many books to read while visiting him.
[edit] Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
In 1987, The Sicilian was adapted into a film, directed by Michael Cimino and starring Christopher Lambert as Salvatore Giuliano, however, due to copyright issues, the characters of Michael Corleone and Clemenza were not included in this movie adaptation.
[edit] External links
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