PinocchioThough one of the best-known books in the world, Pinocchio at the same time remains unknown—linked in many minds to the Walt Disney movie that bears little relation to Carlo Collodi’s splendid original. That story is of course about a puppet who, after many trials, succeeds in becoming a “real boy.” Yet it is hardly a sentimental or morally improving tale. To the contrary, Pinocchio is one of the great subversives of the written page, a madcap genius hurtled along at the pleasure and mercy of his desires, a renegade who in many ways resembles his near contemporary Huck Finn. Pinocchio the novel, no less than Pinocchio the character, is one of the great inventions of modern literature. A sublime anomaly, the book merges the traditions of the picaresque, of street theater, and of folk and fairy tales into a work that is at once adventure, satire, and a powerful enchantment that anticipates surrealism and magical realism. Thronged with memorable characters and composed with the fluid but inevitable logic of a dream, Pinocchio is an endlessly fascinating work that is essential equipment for life. |
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Common terms and phrases
Adventures of Pinocchio asked Pinocchio Blue Fairy CARLO COLLODI coach Collodi's tale Corn Head dead Disney Disney's donkey door ears eyes Fairy's feet film Fire-Eater fish GEORGES SIMENON Geppetto Giorgio Manganelli give go to school gold coins Goodbye hands hee-haw hour hunger imagine Italian J.G. FARRELL jackass Jiminy Cricket jumped knocked Lampwick laughing legs LEONARDO SCIASCIA little donkey little voice look Manganelli Master Antonio Master Cherry Mini-Man monster mother mouth murderers never nice night nose once piece of wood Pinocchio asked Pinocchio began poor daddy poor Pinocchio poor puppet Proper boys puppet master repeated the Cat replied Pinocchio replied the puppet Ringmaster running Shark shouted Pinocchio Sky-Blue Hair Snail soon spelling book stop story Talking Cricket tell thing thousand tomorrow Tuna turned UMBERTO ECO waiting walked words