COLLODI, Carlo. — Pseudonym of Carlo Lorenzini, born in Florence on 24 Nov. 1826, died there in Oct. 1890. He derived his pseudonym Collodi from the birthplace of his mother. For three years he was in the seminary at Colle Val d’Elsa, and continued his studies in Florence at the Scolopi school. In 1848 he fought at Montanara; he later served as a theatrical censor in the prefecture of Florence and wrote three mediocre comedies.
Turning to journalism, he founded *Il Lampione* and *La Scaramuccia*. In 1859 he volunteered in the “Novara” cavalry regiment. After publishing various works for adults—*I misteri di Firenze* (a novel), *Macchiette* (stories), *Occhi e naso* (stories), *Note gaie* (articles), etc.—he devoted himself to children’s literature. In 1881 he began serializing *Le avventure di Pinocchio* in *Il Giornale dei bambini*; the work achieved extraordinary success and has been translated into nearly all languages. This wide popularity, aside from its artistic merits, owes much to the sententious yet kindly morality expressed in formulas that are at once skeptical and judicious. The moral lesson of the Pinocchio tale does not lapse into sterile precept, for Collodi, almost unconsciously, succeeds in weaving his fantasy into the current and meaning of truth.
For young readers he also wrote: *Giannettino*, *Minazzolo*, *Storie allegre* and other tales, always with educational aims and touches of humor. He also adapted the *Contes de fées* of Charles Perrault.