Carlo Collodi

Writer and journalist, born in Florence, Tuscany, NC Italy. He tried his hand at journalism and the theatre, but found success writing children's books, including Racconti delle fate (1875), Giannettino (1876), and Storie allegre (1887), but is best known for Le avventure di Pinocchio. Storia di un burattino which appeared in instalments (1880) in the Giornale per i bambini and later in book form (1883). Educational, yet enchanting, it has became a worldwide children's classic.

Carlo Lorenzini (November 24, 1826 - October 26, 1890), better known as Carlo Collodi, or simply Collodi, was an Italian writer and journalist. Best known as the creator of Pinocchio, Lorenzini wrote many more novels and comedies.

During the Wars of Independence in 1848 and 1860 Collodi served as a volunteer with the Tuscan army. His active interest in political matters may be seen in his earliest literary works as well as in the founding of the satirical newspaper Il Lampione.

Lorenzini had won fame as early as 1856 with his novel In vapore and had also begun intense activity on other political newspapers such as Il Fanfulla;

In 1875 he entered the domain of children's literature with Racconti delle fate, a translation of French fairy tales by Perrault. In 1876 Lorenzini wrote Giannettino (inspired by Alessandro Luigi Parravicini's Giannetto), the Minuzzolo, and Il viaggio per l'Italia di Giannettino, a series which explored the re-unification of Italy through the ironic thoughts and actions of the character Giannettino.

Lorenzini became fascinated by the idea of using an amiable, rascally character as a means of expressing his own convictions through allegory. In 1880 he began writing Storia di un burattino ("The story of a marionette"), also called Le avventure di Pinocchio, which was published weekly in Il Giornale dei Bambini (the first Italian newspaper for children).

Lorenzini died unaware of the fame and popularity that awaited his work;