Description
A fresh new translation of Collodi's cherished classic of childhood adventure
Carved from a piece of magical wood by the old carpenter Geppetto, the puppet Pinocchio comes to life and is almost immediately cast into a series of extraordinary misadventures. Featuring mischievous animals, a wise cricket and, of course, a nose that grows, The Adventurous of Pinocchio is one of the world's most beloved fairy tales.
This sparkling new translation by John Hooper and Anna Kraczyna captures the rascally spirit that makes the playful and easily distracted Pinocchio an icon of children's literature, while also revealing the novel's quiet message about the dangers of social inequality and the duty of kindness humans owe one another.
About the Author
Carlo Collodi (Author)
Carlo Collodi (pen-name of Carlo Lorenzini) was born in Florence in 1826. He began his career as a journalist and worked as a civil servant before becoming a published author. In 1881 he wrote a short episode in the life of a wooden puppet for a newspaper, and it was an immediate success. The first English language version of the adventures of Pinocchio was published in 1892, two years after his death.
John Hooper (Translator)
John Hooper is the Italian and Vatican correspondent for The Economist and the author of the bestseller The Italians. He has reported from Italy for more than twenty years and is a lecturer at Stanford University.
Anna Kraczyna (Translator)
Anna Kraczyna is a native of Florence, the daughter of American artists who moved to Italy. She has taught at Stanford University and Sarah Lawrence College, and divides her time among translating, interpreting, and lecturing on the language, literature and society of Italy.
Reviews
"A zingy new translation." The Economist
"Perfectly timed. The translators . . . do justice to the story with their insightful annotations and cogent introduction. . . . Who can't love a story as wildly inventive as [this]? Children certainly love it-and have so for nearly 150 years. But Pinocchio can also grab the interest of any adult willing to engage with the story's rich tapestry of symbolism, archetypes, and layers of meaning. . . . Should you find yourself watching all or none of the recent and upcoming film adaptations of Pinocchio, this new translation from Penguin Classics is a terrific way to get reacquainted with one of the world's most popular and important stories." PopMatters
"Very lively . . . A fine translation in many ways, and I love the way it brings out the Italianness, and I do like the punch of it. It's great." Ann Hallamore Caesar, The TLS Podcast
"A complex, unsettling novel-miles away from the morality tale that Pinocchio's story has become . . . Pinocchio harbors a strain of systemic injustice and deep betrayal. . . . Imbued with social criticism and pessimistic humor, [it] can be read, among other things, as an irreverent attack on established authority. . . . As the translators John Hooper and Anna Kraczyna note in a recent critical edition published by Penguin, it's no coincidence that the utterance 'Pazienza!' occurs 15 times throughout the novel. . . . It's a quintessentially Italian admission of defeat . . . that, as Hooper and Kraczyna note, 'echoes centuries of unwilling yet unavoidable resignation.' " -The Atlantic
"An effort to reclaim the spirit of the original, particularly as something distinct from the animated Disney cartoon that most are familiar with . . . Their goal . . . is not dissimilar to that of Matteo Garrone in his wonderfully dark film adaptation: to demonstrate, once again, that Pinocchio is far more than just a children's story." The Week in Italy
Book Information
ISBN 9780143136095
Author Carlo Collodi
Format Paperback
Page Count 208
Imprint Penguin Classics
Publisher Penguin Books Ltd
Weight(grams) 197g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 128mm * 17mm
