Who Was Carlo Collodi? A Guide for Families

Behind Pinocchio stands a fascinating man whose life was as adventurous as his famous character's. Carlo Collodi — whose real name was Carlo Lorenzini — was a journalist, soldier, translator, and writer who created one of the most influential stories in world literature almost by accident.

A Florentine with a rebellious spirit

Carlo Lorenzini was born on November 24, 1826, in Florence, Italy. He was the eldest of ten siblings in a humble family. His father was a cook and his mother worked as a seamstress. Thanks to the generosity of a Florentine nobleman who sponsored him, Carlo was able to study at the seminary, though he had no religious vocation. From a young age, he showed an independent, rebellious character — qualities he would later transfer to his most famous character.

The journalist and soldier

At 22, Carlo volunteered for the Italian War of Independence against Austria (1848). He fought in two campaigns, and the experience marked him deeply. After the war, he turned to journalism and founded a satirical newspaper called "Il Lampione" (The Lamppost), which was censored by the authorities. He adopted the pen name "Collodi" after the Tuscan village where his mother was born.

How was Pinocchio born?

In 1881, the editor of a children's newspaper called "Giornale per i Bambini" asked Collodi to write a serialized story. Collodi, who was 55 and didn't consider himself a children's writer, accepted reluctantly. He sent the first chapter with a note: "I'm sending you this kid stuff. Do whatever you want with it. But if you publish it, pay me well."

The original version ended with Pinocchio hanged from a tree by the Fox and the Cat — a very dark ending. But young readers protested so loudly that Collodi was compelled to continue. This is how the most famous chapters were born: The Blue Fairy rescuing Pinocchio, The Land of Toys, the whale, and the glorious finale where he becomes a real boy.

Fun facts that will surprise kids

• Pinocchio was published as weekly instalments over two years (1881-1883), like a modern TV series.
• It's the third most translated book in the world, after the Bible and Don Quixote.
• Collodi never saw his creation's worldwide success — he died in 1890, before Pinocchio conquered the world.
• Disney's version (1940) greatly softened the original story, which is much darker and more dramatic.
• In the original story, the Talking Cricket is squashed by Pinocchio with a mallet in chapter two. Disney turned him into the lovable Jiminy Cricket.
• In the town of Collodi (Tuscany), there has been a Pinocchio theme park since 1956.

Collodi's legacy

Carlo Collodi died on October 26, 1890, in Florence, aged 63. He never knew that his "kid stuff" would become one of the most important books in history. Pinocchio has been translated into over 260 languages and dialects, adapted into films, operas, TV series, and plays worldwide.

What makes Pinocchio special isn't the magic or the growing nose — it's the universal story of a child who must learn, through mistakes, to become a good person. It's the story of all of us.

Discover all 10 Pinocchio chapters in the Pinocchio collection at Cuentautor, with professional audio narration in 17 languages.

Read also: 5 Life Lessons from Pinocchio · The 10 Pinocchio Chapters Every Child Should Know