The Adventures of Pinocchio (Le Avventure Di Pinocchio): The Complete Text in a Bilingual Edition with the Original Illustrations (Biblioteca Italiana) [Paperback]

Carlo Collodi (Author), Nicolas J. Perella (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 31, 2005 | Age Range: 8 and up | Series: Biblioteca Italiana

Perella's translation and introductory essay capture the wit, irony, ambiguity, and social satire of the original nineteenth-century text, finally reclaiming Pinocchio for adult readers. It also represents the first time the whole story has appeared in English. This bilingual edition includes over 130 drawings by the original illustrator, Enrico Mazzanti.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

PRAISE FOR THE FIRST EDITION:

"The best English translation."--Franco Fido, Harvard University

"A literary masterpiece. Perella's translation is excellent and is unlikely to be surpassed."--Ernesto G. Caserta, Duke University

"The real Pinocchio offers pleasures never hinted at by Disney.... A masterful blend of realism and fantasy."--Voice Literary Supplement

"Perella's opening essay is no mere 'introduction'; it is the fullest exposition of the novel ever to appear in English.... Enormously rewarding."--The Pinocchio Catalogue

About the Author

Nicolas J. Perella is Professor Emeritus of Italian at the University of California, Berkeley.

Product Details

• Age Range: 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 506 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press; Bilingual edition (August 31, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520246861
• ISBN-13: 978-0520246867
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 1.2 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #587,013 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #18 in Books > Children's Books > Education & Reference > Foreign Language Learning > Italian

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read November 20, 2006

By Valeria1129

Format:Paperback

this is the original story of Pinocchio and it is wonderful. Unlike the Disney version, this book takes you through all the adventures of Pinocchio. It is truely a great book, and everyone should have a copy.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars room for improvement November 8, 2007

By TP

Format:Paperback

Who would want to read this book in its particular layout? Most likely students of the Italian language who are looking for a reader or hoping to familiarize themselves more with Italian culture. For that purpose it is very suitable, though I have to disagree that the translation into the English language is "unlikely to be surpassed." The translation is a bit literal at times and stilted in my opinion and can be improved upon in many ways. Also the introductory essay which is around 69 pages long is about 60 some pages too long and boarders on the ridiculous. If you don't want to ruin your own experience reading this story, skip it, or at least be warned that you will be reading of phallic interpretations of P's nose and lots of useless meanderings. The intro offers some valid historical points of interest but for the most part it is overkill. It probably would have been more helpful to include the historical and cultural insights in the endnotes, which do offer some explanations for some of the translation and meanings of words, but could be more fully extended and the intro less so. In this way, one's adventure in reading this story is not tainted by the intro, and ones understanding in areas of confusion could be aided on an as need basis, without ruining the whole experience of reading this wonderful story that does indeed seem to capture the essence of the Italian experience.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Pinocchio October 6, 2007

By Laretta

Format:Paperback

This is a wonderful edition of the everlasting story of Pinocchio. The book is a pleasant print on nice paper. It has the Italian text in front and the drawings of the original version of the story, that was published in short episodes in an Italian magazine.
The story has values for both, the multiple levels that you can read about Pinocchio's adventures (for example the symbolism, as you can find in other stories such as "Alice's adventures in wonderland") and the language and social meaning. Collodi originally did not intend to have the book published for children, it contains topics that reflect the man understanding of its human nature and of civilized life. For all these reasons Pincchio was adapted from Collodi, and later on many versions were made for children entertainment. Although this edition would probably appeal more a 12 years old than a younger infant, it remains a classic in literature history.