The Adventures of Pinocchio
The Adventures of Pinocchio (/pɪˈnoʊki.oʊ/ pi-NOH-kee-oh; Italian: Le avventure di Pinocchio [le avːenˈtuːre d̪i piˈnɔkːjo]) (commonly shortened to Pinocchio) is a novel for children by Italian author Carlo Collodi, written in Pescia. It is about the mischievous adventures of an animated marionette named Pinocchio and his father, a poor woodcarver named Geppetto.
It was originally published in a serial form as The Story of a Puppet (Italian: La storia di un burattino) in the Giornale per i bambini, one of the earliest Italian weekly magazines for children, starting from 7 July 1881. The story stopped after nearly 4 months and 8 episodes at Chapter 15, but by popular demand from readers, the episodes were resumed on 16 February 1882.[1] In February 1883, the story was published in a single book. Since then, the spread of Pinocchio on the main markets for children’s books of the time has been continuous and uninterrupted, and it was met with enthusiastic reviews worldwide.[1]
A universal icon and a metaphor of the human condition, the book is considered a canonical piece of children’s literature and has had great impact on world culture. Philosopher Benedetto Croce reputed it as one of the greatest works of Italian literature.[2] Since its first publication, it has inspired hundreds of new editions, stage plays, merchandising, television series and movies, such as Walt Disney’s iconic animated version, and commonplace ideas such as a liar’s long nose.
The book has been translated between 260 (according to an extensive research done by the Fondazione Nazionale Carlo Collodi and based on UNESCO sources in the late 1990s)[3] and over 300 languages worldwide.[4] That makes it the most translated non-religious book in the world.[3] While the total sales since its first publication are unknown because of the many public domain re-releases begun in 1940,[3] some sources stated that the book has sold over 80 million copies in recent years,[5] making it one of the best-selling books ever published.[6] According to Francelia Butler, it remains “the most translated Italian book and, after the Bible, the most widely read”.[7]
The story begins in Tuscany, Italy. A carpenter named Master Antonio, but whom everyone calls Master Cherry, has found a block of wood which he plans to carve into a leg for his table. When he begins, however, the log shouts out. Frightened by the talking log, Master Cherry gives it to his neighbor Geppetto, an extremely poor man who plans to make a living as a puppeteer in hopes of earning “a crust of bread and a glass of wine”.
Pinocchio throws a hammer at the talking cricket.
Geppetto carves the block into a boy and names him “Pinocchio”. As soon as Pinocchio’s nose has been carved, it begins to grow with his congenital impudence. Before he is even built, Pinocchio already has a mischievous attitude; no sooner than Geppetto is finished carving Pinocchio’s feet does the puppet proceed to kick him. Once the puppet has been finished and Geppetto teaches him to walk, Pinocchio runs out the door and away into the town. He is caught by a Carabiniere, who assumes Pinocchio has been mistreated and imprisons Geppetto.
