Puzo, Mario

Mario Gianluigi Puzo was an American author born in a slum known as Hell’s Kitchen on Manhattan, New York. His parents were both immigrants from Pietradefusi in the Avellino province, Italy. He had a difficult upbringing, especially after his father abandoned the family at the beginning of the 1930s and left his wife to care for their seven children on her own. Puzo won grants so he could attend City College of New York. Shortly after graduating he joined the US Army Air Forces, but due to his bad eyesight he never saw active service, instead he worked as a public relations officer.