The Adventures of Pinocchio

This article is about the Carlo Collodi novel. For other uses, see The Adventures of Pinocchio (disambiguation).
The Adventures of Pinocchio
illustration from 1883 edition by Enrico Mazzanti
AuthorCarlo Collodi
IllustratorEnrico Mazzanti
LanguageItalian
GenreFantasy, adventure
Publication date
July 7, 1881 – February 16, 1882 (magazine)
February 23, 1883 (novel)
Publication placeItaly

The Adventures of Pinocchio (/pɪˈnoʊkioʊ/ ⓘ pin-OH-kee-oh; Italian: Le avventure di Pinocchio. Storia di un burattino [le avvenˈtuːre di piˈnɔkkjo ˈstɔːrja di um buratˈtiːno, - dj um -], i.e. "The Adventures of Pinocchio. Story of a Puppet"), commonly shortened to Pinocchio, is an 1883 children's fantasy novel by Italian author Carlo Collodi. It is about the mischievous adventures of an animated marionette named Pinocchio, which he faces many perils and temptations, meets characters that teach him about life, and learns goodness before he achieves his heart's desire of becoming a real boy.

The story was originally published in 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, Pinocchio has been one of the most popular children's books and been critically acclaimed.[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 considered it one of the greatest works of Italian literature.[2] Since its first publication, it has inspired many works of fiction, such as Walt Disney's animated version, and commonplace ideas such as a liar's long nose.

The book has been translated into as many as 260 languages worldwide,[3][4] making it one of the world's most translated books.[3] While it is likely one of the best-selling books ever published, the actual total sales since its first publication are unknown due to the many reductions and different versions.[3] According to Viero Peroncini: "some sources report 35 million [copies sold], others 80, but it is only a way, even a rather idle one, of quantifying an unquantifiable success".[5] According to Francelia Butler, it also remains "the most translated Italian book and, after the Bible, the most widely read".[6]

  1. ^ a b "The Adventures of Pinocchio - Fondazione Pinocchio - Carlo Collodi - Parco di Pinocchio". Fondazione Pinocchio. Archived from the original on 2019-09-09. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  2. ^ Benedetto Croce, «Pinocchio», in Idem, La letteratura della nuova Italia, vol. V, Laterza, Bari 1957 (IV ed.), pp. 330-334.
  3. ^ a b c Giovanni Gasparini. La corsa di Pinocchio. Milano, Vita e Pensiero, 1997. p. 117. ISBN 88-343-4889-3
  4. ^ "Imparare le lingue con Pinocchio". ANILS (in Italian). 19 November 2015. Archived from the original on 20 November 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  5. ^ Viero Peroncini (April 3, 2018). "Carlo Collodi, il papà del burattino più conformista della letteratura" (in Italian). artspecialday.com. Archived from the original on April 3, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  6. ^ [...]remains the most translated Italian book and, after the Bible, the most widely read[...] by Francelia Butler, Children's Literature, Yale University Press, 1972