Before anyone even begins to criticize a person of Mario Puzo literary talents one must look at his credentials. The critic should be well read and should know what he is attempting to do. For once I can claim I have read a lot but at 26 I am pretty sure there is a lot of reading left and a lot more I can read. However compared to the average Indian I am sure I have read enough. With that said I must say that Mario Puzo has become my favourite author (Sorry Mr. Robin Cook). Sadly Mario Puzo is dead and we will not see any more books from him. He is the author of some brilliant books like The Sicilian, Omerta and of course The Godfather. However the book in question is The Family. Now the story although is labelled as fiction but the story sure looks pretty historically correct and very very well written The story revolves around the family of the Borgeas and how from a powerful cardinal the Borgea rises to the post of the Pope and how his son Ceasar becomes one of the most brilliant military generals alive. However the book is not so much about just one family. It encompasses a generation of people who resided in Italy at that time and is an elaborately well knit web of deceit and deception. Sun Tzu once wrote that all warfare is based on deception, Mario Puzo seems to have taken it one step ahead and described how power can enslave even the most Pious men. The book has some pretty brilliant aspects to it like how a pregnant woman is declared Femmina Intacta (a virgin) just because she happens to be the popes daughter. How a prince is made and how he falls deceived. The book also plays on the historical and fictional. It is really convincing and anyone who knows a little history (Obviously not all of it) may just believe the entire book. However the book is nonetheless very well researched and the introduction of Nicollo Machiavelli into the book really makes you a believer. I must say that this book is an IDEAL candidate for a movie and if any director has not already grabbed on he should make this into a movie. The book brilliantly displays the intricacies of the fragile politics that are involved in the then fractioned Italy. Mario Puzo deserves to be remember by more than just the Godfather and if you want to discover his true talent as an author, read The Family and you will see how brilliantly an author he was. As always I will not reveal the plot of the book as I believe that is piracy and a really lazy short cut.