Carlo Collodi [pseudonym of Carlo Lorenzini] (1826-1890), Italian journalist and author wrote The Adventures of Pinocchio.After several months of the series' well received publication, Pinocchio was left for dead hanging from the branch of an oak tree by two robbers. There was such an outpouring of grief and demand for a continuation that Collodi acquiesced. The novel Pinocchio became a best-seller, the adventures of the now iconic puppet-boy appealing universally to children from all over North America, Europe, and numerous other countries. He inspired many movie producers to adapt him to the big screen including Walt Disney. Created by his poor woodcarver father Geppetto, Pinocchio is a mischievous boy who's nose grows if he tells a lie. At times dark and comical, with allegory to the socio-political times in Italy, Jiminy Cricket and The Blue Fairy accompany him as he redeems himself to become a "real" boy whilst learning the moral of the story.
Born in Florence under the name Carlo Lorenzini. The author had ten siblings, but only three made it to adulthood.
He spent spent most of his childhood in the town of … Collodi and took the town’s name for his pen name.
The author served as a volunteer with the Tuscan army during the Italian wars of independence (1848 and 1860).
Outside of periodicals, the author’s first publication was Gli amici di casa (1856), a funny guidebook.
During his career, the author became fascinated by the idea of using funny, rascally characters as allegories to his own convictions.
He published his most famous book, The Adventures of Pinocchio, in 1883.
The original name of The Adventures of Pinocchio was Storia di un burattino (The story of a marionette).
The Adventures of Pinocchio was serialized as a weekly feature of the first Italian newspaper for children, Il Giornale per i Bambini.
The book is much darker than the 1940 Disney adaptation, in the novel Pinocchio gets hanged and stabbed by assassins – and that’s before you reach the half way mark. Mr. Collodi intended to finish the novel with the characters miserable death, the happy ending seems like and afterthought.
The author’s Pinocchio is not a charming little marionette, but a disgraceful rouge, a rotten kid, whose behavior is meant to serve as a warning to real-life kids.
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