Carlo Collodi (1826-1890) was the pen name of Carlo Lorenzini, an Italian journalist born in Florence. Collodi's
life and writings were dedicated to the Italian liberation movement to free the country from Austrian domination
and establish a national identity. In 1875, Collodi put aside his political struggles and turned to a new interest:
writing for children.
Summary
Pinocchio plays pranks upon the kindly woodcarver Geppetto, is duped by the Fox and the Cat, kills the pedantic
Talking Cricket, and narrowly escapes death, with the help of the blue-haired Fairy. A wooden puppet without strings,
Pinocchio is a tragicomic figure, a poor, illiterate, naughty peasant boy who has few choices in life but usually
chooses to shirk his responsibilities and get into trouble. This sly and imaginative novel, alternately catastrophic
and ridiculous, takes Pinocchio from one predicament to the next, and finally to an optimistic, if uncertain, ending.
In his compelling introduction, Jack Zipes places Pinocchio within the traditions of the oral folk tale and the
literary fairy tale, showing how Collodi subverts those traditions while raising questions about "how we 'civilize'
children in uncivilized times."
