Born Carlo Lorenzini on November 24, 1826, in Florence, Italy, Carlo Collodi was the eldest son of Angiolina Orzali and Domenico Lorenzini. He grew up in the town of Collodi with his maternal grandmother. In around 1842, he joined the College of the Scolopi Fathers in Florence to complete his education. A couple of years later, Collodi began working at a famous Florentine bookshop. This is when his professional career as a writer commenced. His early literary works reflect his interest in politics. Collodi began writing Storia di un burattino (Story of a Marionette) in 1880—it was the story of a notorious puppet named Pinocchio and his father Gepetto. It was published in book form titled The Adventures of Pinocchio: the story of a puppet in February 1883. The book was an instant success and since then has never gone out of print. Collodi breathed his last on October 26, 1890, in Florence. He continues to be remembered and celebrated for his mischievous puppet character Pinocchio and his adventures.