Collodi Carlo – Florence, November 24 1826, Florence, October 26, 1890; pseudonym of Carlo Lorenzini, he was one of the most important Italian writers of the 19th century, best known for creating the character of Pinocchio, who went on to achieve worldwide fame. He was born in Florence on November 24, 1826, into a modest family: his father was a cook, and his mother a housemaid originally from the Tuscan village of Collodi, from which Carlo later took his pen name. From an early age, he showed a strong passion for culture and writing. He studied at seminaries in Colle Val d’Elsa and later in Florence, but never took religious vows. Instead, he developed an interest in politics and journalism, actively participating in the events of the Italian Risorgimento. Collodi was also an engaged intellectual: he took part in the first and second wars of Italian independence and wrote numerous articles and essays on political and cultural topics. He founded satirical newspapers such as Il Lampione and La Scaramuccia, where he sharply criticized the social and political issues of his time. In his early literary career, Collodi wrote mainly for an adult audience. He dealt with theater, criticism, politics, and literary commentary. However, starting in the 1870s, he turned his attention to children’s literature, a field still little explored in Italy but rapidly gaining ground. This shift marked a turning point in his life and career. One of his first works for children was "Giannettino" (1876), an educational book intended to convey moral and civic values to young readers. The character of Giannettino later appeared in other stories, such as Minuzzolo and Il viaggio per l’Italia di Giannettino, where Collodi aimed to teach children the importance of honesty, hard work, and civic responsibility. However, his true success came with the publication of "Le avventure di Pinocchio. Storia di un burattino" (The Adventures of Pinocchio. Story of a Puppet), which began as a serialized story in 1881 in the "Giornale per i bambini", one of the first Italian magazines dedicated to children. Initially, the story was meant to end with the tragic death of the puppet, but the overwhelming popularity among readers persuaded Collodi to continue the narrative, which was later published as a full book in 1883. Pinocchio tells the story of a wooden puppet, carved by Geppetto, who dreams of becoming a real boy. The tale is rich in symbolism and moral lessons: through his adventures, mistakes, and misfortunes, Pinocchio learns the value of sincerity, responsibility, and self-sacrifice. Characters like the Blue Fairy, the Talking Cricket, the Cat and the Fox, Mangiafuoco, and Lampwick (Lucignolo) have become universal symbols of the struggle between good and evil, temptation and conscience. Written in a simple yet incisive style, often ironic and at times dramatic, the book combines entertainment with deep educational meaning, which is why it continues to resonate with readers of all ages to this day. In addition to Pinocchio, Collodi also wrote: "I racconti delle fate" (Tales of the Fairies, 1875): a collection of fairy tales translated from French by Charles Perrault, including Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty. This work played a significant role in introducing and popularizing classic French fairy tales in Italy. He also produced lesser-known works, journalistic writings, short stories, and educational texts, often characterized by a moral undertone that, while never heavy-handed, remained engaging and accessible to a wide readership. Carlo Collodi died in Florence on October 26, 1890, at the age of 63. He did not live long enough to witness the global success of his wooden puppet, who only after the author's death became one of the most beloved characters in world literature.