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«Once upon a time...There was a King! – shall say my young readers. No, dear kids, you are wrong. Once upon a time there was a piece of wood...» This is the way the story of Pinocchio the puppet begins, and between reality and imagination, he is always up to countless mischief, which he always pays for dearly, until, by becoming a good and diligent boy, he earns the final prize of becoming a real boy. This work is considered to be a masterpiece in children’s literature and a good pedagogical work: as a matter of fact, Pinocchio’s upbringing is the fruit of his direct experience; neither master Geppetto, nor the blue haired fairy, nor the talking cricket (Jimenee cricket) or others are modifying Pinocchio’s actions and strong will; if anything, they are only able to provide some advice; Benedetto Croce (Italian critic, idealist, philosopher, politician, 1866-1952), can see the humanity from the beginning of its novitiate in the piece of wood used to carve the puppet: it is a puppet, but a very spiritual one. Pinocchio’s true story is, after all the story of his own adventures; that is putting through the test things that have been voluntarily searched; on the other hand, somebody has tried to highlight some kind of symbol for mankind in Pinocchio, always exposed to being attracted by passions, but always triumphant above them. |
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He came up with his pen name from Collodi, his mother’s birthplace, and he has been known all over the world with it since 1856 as the author of Pinocchio. His first children’s book was published in 1876: The fairy tales, magnificent translations of Perrault’s French tales. Then a series of text books, where narration blends in with knowledge, brought him recognition in education for the newly united Italy. This was common formula in those days, which Lorenzini reinterpreted with linguistic creativity and skill. In 1881 the first episode in A puppet’s story was published in the "Giornale per i bambini" – the children’s magazine - (the pioneer of Italian magazines for boys and girls). Other episodes were published up to 1883, when they were gathered in a book with the title The adventures of Pinocchio. The book has been translated into almost every language in the world, and has been illustrated by many book illustrators, converted into comic strips and cartoon movies (the most famous one is the Walt Disney movie, that made its appearance in 1940). |
In 1972, Luigi Comencini made a television series, with Andrea Balestri (Pinocchio), Nino Manfredi (Geppetto), Gina Lollobrigida (the Fairy), Franco Franchi and Ciccio Ingrassia (the Cat and the Fox). Collodi’s masterpiece is a story full of human drive: the extraordinary ups and downs of the boy-puppet, his discoveries, at times happy and at other times painful, about the world and life, his rebellious outbursts and his repentance, his longing for justice, his hopes and worries, take shape in a sharp tale which for a long time has been defined as a true classic masterpiece, which goes way beyond the boundaries of simple children’s literature. |
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