Pinocchio: (A “story” that tells more than a lesson)
This illustration is from the 1911 edition by Attilio Mussino
Here’s something you may not have known about Pinocchio, the enormously popular children’s story about a perjuring wooden puppet. The tale is less fictional than we may have believed, new research concludes.
Pinocchio was written on July 7, 1881, by Carlo Collodi and was published at that time in an Italian magazine as La Storia di un Burattino (The Story of a Marionette). In 1883, the story was adapted into a book, later titled “The Adventures of Pinocchio”. The book is considered to be the most translated work of all time, only after the Bible.
Researcher Alessandro Vegni has conducted extensive studies on the work comparing the story of Pinocchio (which takes place in San Miniato Basso, a Tuscan village) with historic maps. San Miniato’s original name, it turns out, was “Pinocchio.”
Vegni highlights many consistencies between Collodi’s story and the town’s history. He also proposes that Collodi spent time in San Miniato in addition to drawing inspiration from townspeople.
For example, Vegni writes first, “When Geppetto names his puppet, he says that he knew a whole family of Pinocchi: Pinocchio the father, Pinocchia the mother, and Pinocchi the children.” Additionally, he writes of the “Casa Il Grillo” (Cricket House), a rural building whose name may refer to the Talking Cricket and the village of Osteria Bianca (White Inn) where the pub still stands which Vegni believes inspired the tale’s Red Shrimp Inn. There is also the “Fonte delle Fate” (“Source of the Fairies”) whose name, Vegni argues inspired the Field of Miracles where Pinocchio planted his gold coins.
Some experts don’t agree with Vegni’s findings. One such dissenter is Gianni Greco, but we as readers must do our research if we are to determine if any of this could be true.
Collodi: His Works and His Italy
Few intimate details are known about the life of Pinocchio’s creator, the lifelong bachelor Carlo Lorenzini, who was born in Florence on November 24, 1826, and who chose to take the pen name Collodi, the name of his mother’s native town near Pescia in Tuscany. Collodi came of age as a writer in the “decennio di preparazione,” the decade from 1850 to 1860, when Italy was moving toward unification (The decade of preparation and the Unification of Italy). We do know that he, like many of his generation, was a participant in the 1848-49 battles for Italian national independence and unity and that throughout the 1850s, he was very active as a journalist, writing under a variety of names and on many topics, including politics and music.
Just as Pinocchio told stories (usually untrue) Danny Stefano has a story to tell, so here it is…(as much truth as he knows)
An Anology of the story Pinocchio: by “Danny Stefano”
Although Nonno’s name is not exactly the same as the puppet maker in the story of Pinocchio there are many similarities:
This is how I read it; but you, as a reader must decide for yourself!
- Gesisipi (Nonno) as with Geppetto (puppet maker) both tinkered in their type of work. Nonno worked with his hands very much like Geppetto did.
- Both were from Italy:
- Both had the name Carlo(s):
- Both created items, in both cases puppets were made:
(One as in the story of Pinocchio who told stories until he could not take it anymore then became a real person). (The other puppet was a grandson (somewhat created by Nonno) and his name was Danny Stefano. (Danny was a Gemini) He also told stories, but they were told mostly in this book. Some were only known to a few and some stories” as said in the beginning of the book”, will only settle to the bottom of the ocean one day.
Was Nonno named after the maker of Pinocchio? Only research or by your own feeling will you ever know? This author has no answer, but only suggests that one must only think!
Here is a picture of the area where the story was written……….Look at the similarity from another picture in the book?
Here it is…(the author has only done this to perhaps inspire more research into your own life).Danny 1-30-13
Reading this chapter (I feel) is a useful tool for those who want to know our history. Not all history is accurate or can be proven. As an author you investigate, conceive, and write with purpose of facts, entertainment, and share how you feel. As in this chapter, this is exactly what I have done. I’m trying to present you with the past, so whereas it may give you an experience of not only the past, but to present yourself in the present and to the future.
Remembering does not mean brush sadly across something of the past, but to recreate an experience that involves some reason (even if it is a feeling or an emotion). You recall experiences, while recovering and studying stories of those we love, with or without their knowledge or experience: a new world to pass on not only from those before you, but those of your own.
Remembering is like a road you have traveled! It may not be the same as the scenery around you, as much has changed including the people and their ways. But, remembering and telling is the first path to a destination that will lead you from the past to the future or back to the beginning. It is your choice in life.
“May God give you wisdom, guidance, health, peace, and happiness throughout your lifetime!”
Finally, as I write this story, it leads me to realize how much has changed over our lifetimes. Not only places, scenery, the way people think, but so much more. We now live in a different world. Some families are not as fortunate to live in the same neighborhoods, where they can stay in touch. Even though the new generations will learn to adapt and feel this new normal, it will never replace for me the way life was when we could reach out and talk to someone face to face, touch someone, feel their emotions, know their character, learn their every move, and have a sense of oneness with them. I have lived my life as I (somewhat) wanted, perhaps I have never been able to adjust to the future, but realize the future belongs to the young and the young at heart. As with Pinocchio, (although he told stories) those are not the stories we are talking about. Guess this is just my way of making a point and the point is; it is your life, create your own stories, and enjoy them for a lifetime. Take your field of dreams, your gold coins, your sunny days, and spend them in your lifetime for the good and betterment for all those around you.
I have often wondered if our great grandparents could live in our world, or could we live in their world? I think it all depends on when and where they are, and if it makes them happy, they can adjust. Perhaps as many people adjust, I also see that in life there comes a time, at least for me, where I do not want to make any more changes; just enjoy the lifestyle of peace and happiness.
People that are close to me, know that I have had re-occurring dreams of places in life I found most of them:
One by the Hillsborough River;
The Second in Star Island;
The third in St. Augustine, FL;
and the fourth a bay in Cuba, which I have never seen, but know of.
So we are as life may lead us, on a journey to places we have seen before as well as places we may only see in our minds. My story is to let you see in your mind what I experienced in life.
Here you have my story of Pinocchio, told by someone in a new generation, which will one day be told in a whole new way, and told by another storymaker………Danny Stefano. 4/2013 (Qui hai la mia storia di Pinocchio, raccontata da qualcuno in una nuova generazione, che un giorno sarà raccontata in un modo completamente nuovo, e detto da un altro produttore di storia ……… ) Danny Stefano