Author. Real name Carlo Lorenzini. Born in Florence, he took his pen name from his mother’s native village. He worked for many years as a journalist and began writing fairy tales in 1856. Collodi’s book “The Adventures of Pinocchio” (1883) is one of the most famous children’s stories of all time.  It has been filmed several times,  notably by Walt Disney in 1940.  Collodi never married. (bio by: Bobb Edwards)