Disney distorted the personality of the central character, replaced the message at the heart of the fable, and changed the setting…but Pinocchio is a story with many, many, levels of cultural, social, political, culinary and religious (particularly the “prodigal son” and resurrection) significance. It’s a text far more complex than generally realized--as are Alice in Wonderland and Gulliver’s Travels…
 
Carlo Lorenzini (1826-1890) was an Italian government employee, journalist, political satirist, literary and music critic, translator and author.  The eldest of ten children, only three of whom grew up, he was born to a cook and a seamstress at Via Taddea 21 in central Florence.