Public-domain ebook
Pinocchio: The Tale of a Puppet
Language: en1,881 downloads on Project Gutenberg
Subjects
In: Children & Young Adult Reading·Novels·Classics of Literature
Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #16865.
About this book
The tale begins in a noisy workshop where a frightened carpenter, Master Cherry, hears a mysterious voice emanating from a block of wood. He searches the room, under benches, inside cupboards, even out the street, yet finds no source, only his own imagination. The voice repeats a plaintive “Oh! oh!” and later taunts him as he planes the timber, prompting a cascade of slapstick violence and frantic dialogue between Cherry and his neighbour Geppetto. Their quarrels over wigs and insults quickly give way to a pact: Geppetto will receive the very piece of wood that has terrified Cherry, hoping to fashion a dancing puppet. The narrative then shifts to Geppetto’s cramped, sparsely furnished home, where he carves the puppet, names it Pinocchio, and watches the wood come to life with moving eyes, a growing nose, and a mischievous mouth. The opening sets a chaotic, almost theatrical scene that blends the ordinary with the uncanny, introducing the central wooden character through a series of comic mishaps.
Collodi writes in a lively, exaggerated style typical of late‑19th‑century Italian fairy tales, employing rapid dialogue, vivid physical comedy, and a narrator who frequently breaks the fourth wall with asides and exclamations. The language is brisk and colloquial, peppered with colorful nicknames and absurd arguments that heighten the story’s playful tone. Readers who enjoy mischievous protagonists, whimsical moral lessons, and a blend of slapstick humor with folk‑tale charm will find this version of Pinocchio engaging, especially those who appreciate a narrative that treats its wooden hero as both a source of trouble and a catalyst for adventure.
Characters in Pinocchio
- Master CherryMiddle‑aged carpenter, soot‑stained shirt, leather apron, rough hands, graying hair, earnest eyes
- GeppettoOld woodworker, white beard, simple linen shirt, worn cap, gentle smile, twinkling eyes
- PinocchioWooden boy puppet, carved mahogany skin, painted bright eyes, long growing nose, jaunty hat
The opening · free to read
He turned his terrified eyes all around the room to try and discover where the little voice could possibly have come from, but he saw nobody! He looked under the bench--nobody; he looked into a cupboard that was always shut--nobody; he looked into a basket of shavings and sawdust--nobody; he even opened the door of the shop and gave a glance into the street--and still nobody. Who, then, could it be?
"I see how it is," he said, laughing and scratching his wig, "evidently that little voice was all my imagination. Let us set to work again."
And, taking up the axe, he struck a tremendous blow on the piece of wood.
"Oh! oh! you have hurt me!" cried the same little voice dolefully.
This time Master Cherry was petrified. His eyes started out of his head with fright, his mouth remained open, and his tongue hung out almost to the end of his chin, like a mask on a fountain. As soon as he had recovered the use of his speech he began to say, stuttering and trembling with fear:
"But where on earth can that little voice have come from that said 'Oh! oh!'? Is it possible that this piece of wood can have learned to cry and to lament like a child? I cannot believe it. This piece of wood is nothing but a log for fuel like all the others, and thrown on the fire it would about suffice to boil a saucepan of beans. How then? Can anyone be hidden inside it? If anyone is hidden inside, so much the worse for him. I will settle him at once."
So saying, he seized the poor piece of wood and commenced beating it without mercy against the walls of the room.
Then he stopped to listen if he could hear any little voice lamenting. He waited two minutes--nothing; five minutes--nothing; ten minutes--still nothing!
"I see how it is," he then said, forcing himself to laugh, and pushing up his wig; "evidently the little voice that said 'Oh! oh!' was all my imagination! Let us set to work again."
Putting the axe aside, he took his plane, to plane and polish the bit of wood; but whilst he was running it up and down he heard the same little voice say, laughing:
"Stop! you are tickling me all over!"
This time poor Master Cherry fell down as if he had been struck by lightning. When he at last opened his eyes he found himself seated on the floor.
His face was changed, even the end of his nose, instead of being crimson, as it was nearly always, had become blue from fright.
A lively little old man immediately walked into the shop. His name was Geppetto, but when the boys of the neighborhood wished to make him angry they called him Pudding, because his yellow wig greatly resembled a pudding made of Indian corn.
Geppetto was very fiery. Woe to him who called him Pudding! He became furious and there was no holding him.
"Good-day, Master Antonio," said Geppetto; "what are you doing there on the floor?"
"I am teaching the alphabet to the ants."
"Much good may that do you."
"What has brought you to me, neighbor Geppetto?"
"My legs. But to tell the truth. Master Antonio, I came to ask a favor of you."
"Here I am, ready to serve you," replied the carpenter, getting on his knees.
"This morning an idea came into my head."
"Let us hear it."
"I thought I would make a beautiful wooden puppet; one that could dance, fence, and leap like an acrobat. With this puppet I would travel about the world to earn a piece of bread and a glass of wine. What do you think of it?"
"Bravo, Pudding!" exclaimed the same little voice, and it was impossible to say where it came from.
Hearing himself called Pudding, Geppetto became as red as a turkey-cock from rage and, turning to the carpenter, he said in a fury:
"Why do you insult me?"
"Who insults you?"
"You called me Pudding!"
"It was not I!"
"Do you think I called myself Pudding? It was you, I say!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
And, becoming more and more angry, from words they came to blows, and, flying at each other, they bit and fought, and scratched.
When the fight was over Master Antonio was in possession of Geppetto's yellow wig, and Geppetto discovered that the grey wig belonging to the carpenter remained between his teeth.
"Give me back my wig," screamed Master Antonio.
"And you, return me mine, and let us be friends again."
The two old men having each recovered his own wig, shook hands and swore that they would remain friends to the end of their lives.
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