Pinocchio

Praise

“Collodi’s is a multilayered work of fiction that, although primarily aimed at young readers, is imbued with social criticism and pessimistic humor, and can be read, among other things, as an irreverent attack on established authority.” —Anna Momigliano, The Atlantic

“Disney’s sentimental depiction of Pinocchio bears little resemblance to Collodi’s unscrupulous puppet. This new translation revives the sardonic wit and black humour of the original.” —London Times

“Carlo Collodi’s Pinocchio…is short on Disneyesque sentimentality (there is a talking cricket, but Pinocchio squashes him), long on satire and farce. Geoffrey Brock’s superbly crafted translation and Umberto Eco’s introduction bring to life this tale of gumption and greed.” —O Magazine

“Geoffrey Brock’s new English translation of the subversive parable revives Carlo Collodi’s sardonic wit and pitch-black humor, while bringing to life the poverty, moral vacuity, and uncensored violence of late-19th-century Europe…Brock — known for his award-winning translations of authors such as Umberto Eco and Cesare Pavese — strips away the sentimental veneer to reveal the original haunting fairy tale. Readers will be familiar with many of the characters, as well as the story’s major plot points, but this version thankfully bears little resemblance to most modern interpretations. Pinocchio may have cast off his own strings, but Brock beautifully restores the historical knot.” –BoldType