Mark Winegardner

Last updated
Mark Winegardner
Born (1961-11-24) November 24, 1961 (age 62)
Bryan, Ohio, U.S.
OccupationWriter
NationalityAmerican
Education Miami University
George Mason University (MFA)

Mark Winegardner (born November 24, 1961) is an American writer born and raised in Bryan, Ohio. His novels include The Godfather Returns , Crooked River Burning, and The Veracruz Blues. He published a collection of short stories, That's True of Everybody, in 2002. His newest novel, The Godfather's Revenge , was published in November 2006 by Putnam. His Godfather novels continue the story of the Corleone family depicted in Mario Puzo's The Godfather .

Contents

Writing career

He graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude from Miami University and went on to receive a Master of Fine Arts degree in fiction writing from George Mason University. He published his first book at age 26, while still in graduate school. He has taught at Miami, George Mason, George Washington University. He joined the faculty John Carroll University in 1989, [1] where he is currently the Burroway Professor of English. He was formerly the Director of the Creative Writing Program at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. [2]

Winegardner published his debut work, an autobiographical travel book titled Elvis Presley Boulevard: From Sea to Shining Sea, Almost, in 1987. [3] [4]

In 1990, Winegardner published the nonfiction book Prophet of the Sandlots, about the life of baseball scout Tony Lucadello. While writing the book, Winegardner convinced Lucadello to allow him to travel along with him as he scouted talent. [5] The book was well received by critics at the time of its publication and in retrospective reviews, [6] [5] and has been called one of the greatest baseball books of all time. [7]

After the publication of Sandlots, Winegardner published Steve Fireovid's autobiography, The 26th Man: One Minor Leaguer's Pursuit of a Dream. [8]

Winegardner's debut novel The Veracruz Blues was published in 1996, and centred on five brother's attempt to create a Mexican baseball league that could rival the MLB. [9] [10] He published Crooked River Burning in 2001, to generally positive reviews. [11] [12] The book is set in midcentury Cleveland, Ohio and centers on the relationship between David Zielinsky, an engaged man from a union family, and affluent journalist Anne O'Connor. [13]

He published That's True of Everybody, his debut collection of short stories, in 2002. [14] [15]

The Godfather series

Winegardner was chosen by Random House to write a sequel to Mario Puzo's novels The Godfather and The Sicilian after the author's death in 1999. The book, titled The Godfather Returns , was published in 2004. [16] It received mixed to positive reviews from critics, with Sarah Vowell of The New York Times calling it "a fine, swirling epic." [17] Publishers Weekly described the book as a "phenomenally entertaining, psychologically rich saga." [18] Philip Kerr called it "an offer you can refuse" in a more critical review for The Guardian. [19]

In 2006, Winegardner published a follow-up titled The Godfather's Revenge . The book received mixed reviews, with praise for its style but criticism for failing to innovate. [20] [21]

Awards and honors

Winegardner has won grants, fellowships and residencies from the Ohio Arts Council, the Lilly Endowment, the Ragdale Foundation, the Sewanee Writers Conference and the Corporation of Yaddo. His books have been chosen as among the best of the year by The New York Times Book Review, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Los Angeles Times , the New York Public Library, and USA Today . His work has appeared in GQ , Playboy , Ploughshares , TriQuarterly , Doubletake , Family Circle , The Sporting News , Witness, Story Quarterly, American Short Fiction, Ladies' Home Journal , Parents and The New York Times Magazine . [22] Several of his stories have been chosen as Distinguished Stories of the Year in The Best American Short Stories.

He is an alumnus of the Ragdale Foundation.

Analysis

According to a press release from Putnam: In a major acquisition, G. P. Putnam's Sons Executive Editor Dan Conaway secured North American rights to The Godfather's Revenge, the capstone to the Corleone family saga, which began with Mario Puzo's landmark novel and was carried forward in Winegardner's 2004 New York Times bestseller, The Godfather Returns. The Godfather's Revenge was written by Winegardner, based on Puzo's original characters.

Publications

Related Research Articles

<i>The Godfather</i> (novel) 1969 novel by Mario Puzo

The Godfather is a crime novel by American author Mario Puzo. Originally published in 1969 by G. P. Putnam's Sons, the novel details the story of a fictional Mafia family in New York City, headed by Vito Corleone, the Godfather. The novel covers the years 1945 to 1955 and includes the back story of Vito Corleone from early childhood to adulthood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mario Puzo</span> American author, screenwriter, and journalist

Mario Francis Puzo was an American author and screenwriter. He wrote crime novels about the Italian-American Mafia and Sicilian Mafia, most notably The Godfather (1969), which he later co-adapted into a film trilogy directed by Francis Ford Coppola. He received the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for the first film in 1972 and for Part II in 1974. Puzo also wrote the original screenplay for the 1978 Superman film and its 1980 sequel. His final novel, The Family, was released posthumously in 2001.

<i>The Godfather Part III</i> 1990 American crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola

The Godfather Part III is a 1990 American crime film produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola from the screenplay co-written with Mario Puzo. The film stars Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, Andy García, Eli Wallach, Joe Mantegna, Bridget Fonda, George Hamilton, and Sofia Coppola. It is the third and final installment in The Godfather trilogy. A sequel to The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather Part II (1974), it concludes the fictional story of Michael Corleone, the patriarch of the Corleone family who attempts to legitimize his criminal empire. The film also includes fictionalized accounts of two real-life events: the 1978 death of Pope John Paul I and the Papal banking scandal of 1981–1982, both linked to Michael Corleone's business affairs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Corleone</span> Fictional character from The Godfather

Michael Corleone is a fictional character and the protagonist of Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather. In the three Godfather films, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, Michael was portrayed by Al Pacino, for which he was twice-nominated for Academy Awards. Michael is the youngest son of Vito Corleone, a Sicilian immigrant who builds a Mafia empire. Upon his father's death, Michael succeeds him as the don of the Corleone crime family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vito Corleone</span> Fictional character from The Godfather

Vito Corleone is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather and in the first two of Francis Ford Coppola's film trilogy. Vito is originally portrayed by Marlon Brando in the 1972 film The Godfather, and later by Oreste Baldini as a boy and by Robert De Niro as a young man in The Godfather Part II (1974). He is an orphaned Sicilian immigrant who builds a Mafia empire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vincent Corleone</span> Fictional character from The Godfather series

Vincent SantinoCorleone is a fictional character in the 1990 feature film The Godfather Part III. He is portrayed by Andy García, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Hagen</span> Fictional character from The Godfather series

Thomas Hagen is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather and Francis Ford Coppola's films The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather Part II (1974). He is portrayed by Robert Duvall in the films. He also appears in the Mark Winegardner sequel novels The Godfather Returns and The Godfather's Revenge, as well as Ed Falco's novel The Family Corleone. Duvall was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and a BAFTA for his performance in the first film.

<i>The Godfather</i> 1972 American crime film by Francis Ford Coppola

The Godfather is a 1972 American epic crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, who co-wrote the screenplay with Mario Puzo, based on Puzo's best-selling 1969 novel of the same title. The ensemble cast includes Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard Castellano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard Conte, and Diane Keaton. It is the first installment in The Godfather trilogy, chronicling the Corleone family under patriarch Vito Corleone (Brando) from 1945 to 1955. It focuses on the transformation of his youngest son, Michael Corleone (Pacino), from reluctant family outsider to ruthless mafia boss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Clemenza</span> Fictional character from The Godfather series

Peter Clemenza is a fictional character who first appeared in Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather. He is played by Academy Award-nominee Richard Castellano in Francis Ford Coppola's 1972 film adaptation of the novel, and by Bruno Kirby in The Godfather Part II (1974).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luca Brasi</span> Fictional character in The Godfather

Luca Brasi is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather, as well as its 1972 film adaptation. In the film, he was portrayed by Lenny Montana, an ex-wrestler and former bodyguard and enforcer for the Colombo crime family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salvatore Tessio</span> Fictional character from The Godfather series

Salvatore "Sal" Tessio is a fictional character in Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather, as well as two of the films based on it: The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather Part II (1974). His given name was created for the films; in the novel he is referred to only as "Tessio". In the film The Godfather, Tessio was portrayed by Abe Vigoda. In The Godfather Part II, John Aprea portrayed the younger Tessio, while Vigoda reprised the role in a flashback, set in late 1941, at the end of the film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al Neri</span> Fictional character from The Godfather series

Albert "Al" Neri is a fictional character appearing in Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather and Francis Ford Coppola's trilogy of films based on it. In all three motion pictures, he is portrayed by actor Richard Bright. He functions as Michael Corleone's personal enforcer, bodyguard and assassin.

<i>The Godfather Returns</i> 2004 novel by Mark Winegardner

The Godfather Returns is a novel written by author Mark Winegardner, published in 2004. It is the sequel to Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather and The Sicilian (1984). The publisher, Random House, selected Winegardner to write a sequel after Puzo's death. As the original novel covered the years 1945 to 1955, and included significant backstory on Don Vito Corleone's life, Returns covers the years 1955 to 1962, and includes significant backstory on Michael Corleone's life prior to the first novel. It is the third book in The Godfather series of novels.

<i>The Godfathers Revenge</i> 2006 novel by Mark Winegardner

The Godfather's Revenge, a 2006 novel written by author Mark Winegardner, is the sequel to his 2004 novel The Godfather Returns. It is the fourth book in The Godfather novel series and is chronologically set last.

The Godfather is a trilogy of American crime films directed by Francis Ford Coppola inspired by the 1969 novel of the same name by Italian American author Mario Puzo. The films follow the trials of the fictional Italian American mafia Corleone family whose patriarch, Vito Corleone, rises to be a major figure in American organized crime. His youngest son, Michael Corleone, becomes his successor. The films were distributed by Paramount Pictures and released in 1972, 1974, and 1990. The series achieved success at the box office, with the films earning between $430 and $517 million worldwide. The Godfather and The Godfather Part II are both seen by many as two of the greatest films of all time. The series is heavily awarded, winning 9 out of 28 total Academy Award nominations.

<i>The Family Corleone</i> Novel by Edward Falco

The Family Corleone is a 2012 novel by Ed Falco, based on an unproduced screenplay by Mario Puzo, who died in 1999. It is the prequel to Puzo's The Godfather. It was published by Grand Central Publishing and released May 8, 2012. It is the fifth and final book published in The Godfather novel series but, being a prequel, it is chronologically set first.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Connie Corleone</span> Fictional character from The Godfather series

Constanzia "Connie" Corleone is a fictional character in The Godfather, a 1969 novel by Mario Puzo, and the 1972 film The Godfather. In the film, Connie is portrayed by Talia Shire, the sister of the director Francis Ford Coppola. Shire was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Connie Corleone in The Godfather Part II.

The Godfather book series is a series of crime novels about Italian-American Mafia families, most notably the fictional Corleone family, led by Don Vito Corleone and later his son Michael Corleone. The first novel, The Godfather, written by Mario Puzo, was released in 1969. It was adapted into a series of three feature films, which became one of the most acclaimed franchises in film history.

<i>Six Graves to Munich</i> Mario Puzo novel

Six Graves to Munich is a novel by Mario Puzo, written under the pseudonym Mario Cleri, published in October, 1967. The novel is an expansion of an eponymous short story or novella which appeared in the November, 1965 issue of Male magazine.

References

  1. ↑ "Winegardner had fun discovering 'quirky' Cleveland". old.post-gazette.com. Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  2. ↑ "FSU author pens second 'Godfather' book". www.fsu.edu. Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  3. ↑ "Elvis Presley Boulevard: From Sea to Shining Sea, Almost by Mark Winegardner". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  4. ↑ See, Carolyn (1988-02-15). "Book Review : Grand Tour: From Bryan to Graceland". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  5. 1 2 katiesphil. "Prophet of the Sandlots". InsideTheWhite Sox on Sports Illustrated: News, Analysis, and More. Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  6. ↑ "Prophet of the Sandlots: Journeys with a Major League Scout by Mark Winegardner". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  7. ↑ Belth, Alex (2021-11-30). "The 100 Best Baseball Books Ever Written". Esquire. Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  8. ↑ "The 26th Man: One Minor Leaguer's Pursuit of a Dream by Steve Fireovid". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
  9. ↑ THE VERACRUZ BLUES | Kirkus Reviews.
  10. ↑ "The Veracruz Blues: 9 by Mark Winegardner". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  11. ↑ "Crooked River Burning". archive.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  12. ↑ CROOKED RIVER BURNING | Kirkus Reviews.
  13. ↑ "Crooked River Burning by Mark Winegardner". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  14. ↑ THAT’S TRUE OF EVERYBODY | Kirkus Reviews.
  15. ↑ "Review | That's True of Everybody by Mark Winegardner". januarymagazine.com. Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  16. ↑ Kakutani, Michiko (2004-11-12). "You Think You're Out, but They Try to Pull You Back In". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  17. ↑ Vowell, Sarah (2004-12-05). "'The Godfather Returns': Corleone Family Values". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  18. ↑ "THE GODFATHER RETURNS by Mark Winegardner". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  19. ↑ Kerr, Philip (2004-11-20). "Review: The Godfather by Mark Winegardner". the Guardian. Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  20. ↑ THE GODFATHER’S REVENGE | Kirkus Reviews.
  21. ↑ Agger, Michael (2006-11-19). "The Consigliere". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  22. ↑ "Mark Winegardner | The English Department". english.fsu.edu. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
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