The Adventures of Pinocchio

A Penguin Classic

Carved from wood by the kindly carpenter Geppetto, Pinocchio comes to life—and immediately begins to misbehave. While generations have adored the mischievous puppet, the novel’s deeper message is often overlooked. Pinocchio’s trouble isn’t simply his tendency to lie; it’s his refusal to go to school. The Adventures of Pinocchio is less a cautionary tale about dishonesty than a timeless fable about the value of education and resisting those who would pull our strings.

This lively new translation captures the playful, irreverent spirit of Pinocchio, a late nineteenth-century prototype for figures like Bart Simpson. Richly annotated with insights into Italy’s culture and society, it reveals the novel as both a subversive children’s story and a sophisticated social satire, exploring duty, human connection, and the inequalities of its time.

With Penguin Classics’ authoritative text and contemporary translation, this edition invites readers to rediscover a literary masterpiece with fresh eyes.