Real name Carlo Lorenzini, this journalist and writer was born in Florence in 1826. As a journalist he became well-known in a short space of time and was most noted for heading the newspaper "Il Lampone" which was shut down due to censorship laws in 1848 and re-opened 11 years later. He began to write stories and plays during the 1850s and in 1876 he published his first children's book , "I racconti delle fate", consisting of splendid translations of French fables. In 1881, in the first issue of the "Giornale per i bambini" (pioneer magazine for children), the first part of "Le avventure di Pinocchio" was published with huge success. Lorenzini died suddenly in 1890 in Florence where he is buried today and where his papers can be found in the national library.