Mario Puzo began writing stories in High School. While he was working for the Army he wrote his first novel “The Last Christmas” that was published by the American Vanguard in 1950. This was Puzo's first published work. Then he wrote Dark Arena that was published in 1955. Nine years later he published “The Fortunate Pilgrim”.
Both his books won him critical appraisal but failed in the front of helping him financially.
Meanwhile he worked as a freelance writer. n 1960 Bruce Jay Friedman, an eminent author hired him as an assistant editor of Men's magazine. Puzo wrote action stories in those magazines.
