The Sicilian

For the film based on the novel, seeThe Sicilian (film).

For the chess opening, seeSicilian Defence.

The Sicilian

U.S. first edition cover
Author	Mario Puzo
Language	English
Series	The Godfather
Genre	Thriller,crime fiction
Publisher	Random House
Publication date	November 1984
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (hardbackandpaperback),Audiobook
Pages	416 pp. (hardback edition) and 410 pp. (paperback edition)
ISBN	0-671-43564-7(hardback edition) andISBN0-345-44170-2(paperback edition)
OCLC	11030814
Dewey Decimal	813/.54 19
LC Class	PS3566.U9 S5 1984
Preceded by	The Godfather

The Sicilianis a novel by American authorMario Puzo.Published in 1984 byRandom House Publishing Group(ISBN0-671-43564-7), it is based on the life ofSicilianbanditSalvatore Giuliano.It is set in the same universe as Puzo's most famous work,The Godfather(1969), and contains characters fromThe Godfather.It is regarded asThe Godfather's literarysequeland is the second book inThe Godfathernovel series.It was adapted intoa filmin 1987, though allGodfatherreferences were removed for copyright reasons in the film adaptation.

In this novel, the spelling ofSalvatore Giuliano's name was intentionally changed by Puzo to "Guiliano". This novel, though a work of fiction, is based on the real-life exploits of Giuliano.

Plot

In 1950,Michael Corleone,the son ofSicilian-American MafiaDonVito Corleone,is preparing to return home to America after his exile inSicily.He meets with Don Croce Malo, the most powerfulSicilian MafiaBoss. Don Croce and Michael's father have allied to help the famous banditSalvatore "Turi" Giulianoescape Sicily and go with Michael to America. Michael learns of a set of documents Giuliano has that would cause the downfall of the current Italian government, to be released upon Giuliano's death or capture, called the Testament. Michael also meets Giuliano's parents andGaspare "Aspanu" Pisciotta,Giuliano's best friend and second in command.

In 1943, Turi Giuliano and Aspanu Pisciotta are stopped by theCarabinieri,the corrupt Italian police, whilesmugglingfood, but they refuse to give up the food or the name of who they were trading with. Giuliano is shot, but he manages to kill his attacker, a police Sergeant. Turi is carried by Aspanu to a localmonastery,where he recovers from his wounds and learns more about the criminal side of Sicily under the care of theAbbotManfredi. After he recovers, he and Aspanu make their way back to Giuliano's home inMontelepre,where he is still being sought for the murder. While discussing his future with family and friends, the local police attempt to arrest Turi. Turi and Aspanu open fire on the trucks pursuing them and kill some policemen. They flee to themountains.Innocent citizens of Montelepre are arrested in retaliation.

Turi and Aspanu are met by Turi'sgodfather,Hector Adonis, who fails to dissuade them from becoming bandits. Turi and Aspanu decide to free the prisoners and break into the local police barracks where they are being held. Turi narrowly escapes death at the hands of the Corporal Canio Silvestro whose pistol fails when he pulls the trigger at Turi's head. The freed prisoners include local bandits Passatempo and Terranova, who join Turi's band. Giuliano begins to become famous throughout Italy after a high-profile robbery, and he becomes a hero in Sicily, as he gives away much of his band's earnings to the poor. Silvestro, disgraced after being spared by Giuliano, asks to join his band. They test his loyalty by asking him to execute Frisella, a barber who informed on Giuliano. Silvestro does so and they attach a note to his body saying "So die all who betray Giuliano".

Giuliano comes to dominate the entire northwest corner of Sicily. Giuliano orchestrates a kidnapping of a Siciliannobleman,Prince Ollorto. Ollorto's ransom is arranged by Don Croce, who Ollorto had been paying protection money to. The kidnapping causes Giuliano to come into direct conflict with Don Croce and the Mafia for the first time. Don Croce allows Giuliano to be assassinated by the other Dons, but Giuliano manages to avoid them all. Don Croce finally sends assassin Stefan Andolini, a cousin of Don Corleone's, whose life is only spared by Giuliano due to the intervention of the Abbot Manfredi, his father. Andolini joins Giuliano's band and acts as an emissary between Giuliano and Don Croce.

In 1950Trapani,Michael Corleone is joined byPeter Clemenza,acapoof Don Corleone's, who is helping with the escape. Michael meets Justina, Turi's pregnant wife, and Hector Adonis. She leaves for America. Adonis informs Michael that the Testament is hidden in a gift Giuliano's mother gave him and Michael sends it to his father in America.

In 1947, Don Croce is aligned with the rulingChristian Democratic party,mostly to deny power to theSocialistparties that he believes could destroy the Mafia. Don Croce, along withItaly's Minister of JusticeFranco Trezza, draw up plans to mount an offensive against Giuliano, but instead give foreknowledge of the plans to Giuliano in return for his help in swinging the upcoming election for the Christian Democrats. Giuliano accepts these terms, along with a promise of a pardon, and helps the campaign using propaganda and intimidation.

A Socialist parade celebrating recent victories over the Christian Democrats takes place in the towns ofPiani dei GreciandSan Giuseppe Jatoand converge at a plain called thePortella della Ginestra.Giuliano agreed to suppress the parade, giving his two chiefs, Passatempo and Terranova, orders to "shoot over their heads" to get the crowds to disperse. The men end up shooting too low, andmassacremany people, including women and children. The massacre proves devastating for Giuliano's image in Sicily and destroys any hope of a pardon. Giuliano discovers that Passatempo had been paid off by Don Croce to shoot the paraders and Giuliano executes him. He also executes six Mafia chiefs who were defending the estate of Prince Ollorto from land claims by the local peasants.

A large force in Sicily assembles under the command of Colonel Luca to take down Giuliano. Giuliano's parents and many citizens of Montelepre are arrested for conspiring with him. In retaliation, Giuliano robs a heavily guarded truck that held the money for paying theCarabinieri.Colonel Luca then calls for the rest of the reserve force to come in. Giuliano's band is falling apart, with Silvestro escaping to England and Andolini and Terranova being killed by police. With Colonel Luca's forces closing in and Don Croce having betrayed him, Giuliano knows he must leave for America or die in Sicily.

Aspanu Pisciotta meets with Michael and tells him where to meet Giuliano. The next day, Clemenza and Michael are heading to the meeting place when they hear that Giuliano has been killed by theCarabinieri.They are arrested by Inspector Velardi, but are released soon after due to the intervention of Don Croce. Michael and Clemenza find out that, having grown increasingly paranoid and resentful of Giuliano, Pisciotta has betrayed Giuliano to Don Croce. Pisciotta had shot and killed Giuliano in a moment of panic, fearing that Giuliano knew of his betrayal. Later, imprisoned for banditry, Pisciotta is poisoned by Hector Adonis with the help of Don Croce. Adonis leaves a note in Pisciotta's pocket reading, "So die all who betray Giuliano". With Giuliano dead, Don Croce and the Mafia enrich themselves more than ever at the expense of the people of Sicily.

Michael returns home toLong Island.Don Corleone tells him that they will not release Giuliano's Testament, under the deal he made with Don Croce to ensure Michael's safety. Michael, shocked, realizes that he had been unknowingly working against Giuliano, and that giving the Testament to his father had allowed Giuliano to be killed. Don Corleone teaches Michael a rather dubious lesson: it is better to remain alive at whatever costs than to be a dead hero.

Characters

The realSalvatore Giuliano

The principal characters that drive the plot of the story, many of whom are based on real-life figures.

• Salvatore "Turi" Giuliano– A legendary bandit.Conceivedin America and born in the small Sicilian village ofMontelepre,Salvatore Guiliano is a tall and handsome young man living a relatively normal life for the first twenty years of his life, known as a gentle man and loved dearly by his friends, family and the inhabitants of his tiny village. However, whilesmugglingfood and drink to prepare for the wedding of his sister, Guiliano and his childhood friend, Aspanu Pisciotta, are accosted by the corrupt Italian police, theCarabinieri,and after being shot by a sergeant, Guiliano kills the sergeant with a single shot from his pistol. Helped by Pisciotta, the severely injured Guiliano is taken to the nearby monastery, where the primary priest, the Abbot Manfriedi, shields him from theCarabinieri,and is soon healed back to full health by a doctor and the priests of the monastery. After leaving the monastery, Guiliano 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 increase, he is hunted both by the Italian government, who form a special taskforce to capture him, andthe Mafia,headed by thecapo dei capi,Don Croce Malo, whose interests and influence have been damaged by Guiliano and his band. He is betrayed and killed by his best friend Aspanu Pisciotta before he can escape to America withMichael Corleone.

  

  Aspanu Pisciotta(left) andSalvatore Giulianoin real life

• Gaspare "Aspanu" Pisciotta– The childhood best friend and cousin of Salvatore Guiliano. A sly, thin and handsome young man, who suffers fromtuberculosis,Aspanu Pisciotta was the closest and most trusted friend of Turi Guiliano, who trusted him with his life. As Guiliano's fame and reputation increases, Pisciotta gradually feels less and less significant and after much of his advice is ignored by Guiliano, Pisciotta is approached by Don Croce, who convinces him to betray Guiliano.
• Michael Corleone– The American son of the famed DonVito Corleoneand heir to theCorleone family.Michael has spent four years in Sicily to avoid prosecution for his murder of a high-ranking New York City police officer. After the murders of his wifeApolloniaand his brotherSonny,he is eager to return home to his family in New York. However, he is ordered by his father to escort famous bandit Turi Guiliano back to America with him. As he learns more about the reputation and exploits of the legendary Guiliano, Michael becomes intrigued by him and looks forward to their meeting, but Guiliano is killed before the meeting can take place.
• Don Croce Malo– The extremely powerfulcapo dei capiwho wields power not only in the entire island of Sicily but also inRomeand with the Italian government and the rulingChristian Democraticparty. A legendary negotiator, Don Croce quickly rises to the head of the Mafia and early into Turi Guiliano's career, is eager to make Guiliano the heir to his Mafia empire, but is unable to do so due to Guiliano's deep hatred of the Mafia. As Guiliano's daring exploits increase and after Guiliano assassinates six prominent Mafia leaders and severely damages his interests, Don Croce decides to kill Guiliano, making a deal with Don Corleone to have the Testament kept from the public in exchange for the safety of his son Michael. After Guiliano's death, he and the Mafia are once again the undisputed rulers of Sicily, enriching themselves at the expense of the people. His character is believed to be based on real life Sicilian Mafia BossCalogero Vizzini.
• Hector Adonis– Professor of literature and history in the University ofPalermoand godfather to Turi Guiliano. Adiminutiveman, Adonis is an elegantly dressed and extremely intelligent academic, who commands also influence among the Mafia. He loves and cares for his godson Guiliano, whom he taught literature in his childhood and for whom he often brought many books to read while visiting him.
• Stefan Andolini– An assassin and bandit who works for Don Croce, then for Turi Guiliano. He is a cousin ofVito Corleone(born Vito Andolini), who he works for in America for some years. He is ordered by Don Croce to join Guiliano's band and assassinate him when the opportunity strikes, but he and his men are found out. His men are killed but he is spared after the intercession of the Abbot Manfredi, who is secretly Andolini's father. He joins Guiliano's band for real and acts as an intermediary between Guiliano and Don Croce. He is killed shortly before Guiliano by Inspector Frederico Velardi.
• Passatempo– A member of Salvatore Guiliano's band. A dangerous individual even as a youth, he killed the uncle who gave him his first donkey and turned to banditry along with his companion Terranova. The two were eventually captured and held in the Bellampo barracks, where they were rescued by Guiliano and Pisciotta, later joining their band. Unlike Terranova, he was unnecessarily cruel and lacking in principles, valuing money over all else. He is eventually executed by Guiliano after he takes money from Don Croce to intentionally fire on the crowd inPortella della Ginestra massacre.
• Terranova– A bandit and a member of Salvatore Guiliano's band. Once a hard-working farmer, he had turned to banditry when two tax collectors attempted to seize his prized pig. He was captured and placed in the Bellampo barracks alongside fellow bandit, Passatempo. Both were rescued by Guiliano and Pisciotta and they joined the band. Terranova was trusted with several important tasks such as escorting Guiliano's father and guarding VIP hostages. He also directly handled the band's other kidnapping for ransom plots. Though his fellow lieutenants Gaspare Pisciotta and Passatempo betrayed Guiliano, Terranova remained loyal. He was involved in the Portella della Ginestra massacre, but it was determined by Giuliano that he is not part of the massacre, unlike Passatempo, who had been paid by Don Croce Malo, to deliberately fire at the crowd. Terranova was a somewhat sentimental person with a desire for love. He had a mistress, a widow with children, who he provided for. Terranova was shot to death by the authorities after visiting her in Palermo.

Film adaptation

Main article:The Sicilian (film)

In 1987,The Sicilianwas adapted intoa film,directed byMichael Ciminoand starringChristopher Lambertas Salvatore Guiliano.Due to rights issues, allGodfatherreferences were removed and the characters ofMichael CorleoneandPeter Clemenzawere not included in the film adaptation.

See also

• Salvatore Giuliano,a 1962Italian filmdirected byFrancesco Rosi
• Salvatore Giuliano,a 1986Italian operabyLorenzo Ferrero

External links

• The SicilianatIMDb