Italian Tales by Basile

Giambattista Basile (1566–1632) — an Italian poet and storyteller. The future writer was born in a town near Naples. His parents were not wealthy, but they raised their children to be extraordinary people: Giambattista's brother became a composer, and his sisters became famous singers. The poet initially chose a military path. He joined the army of the Venetian Republic and fought for several years against the forces of the Ottoman Empire. Upon returning to civilian life, Basile settled in Naples and, thanks to his younger sister Adriana, was able to find a means of subsistence. By that time, Adriana had become Italy's leading singer and held a key place in high society. With her help, Giambattista published his works multiple times and served high-ranking nobles as a court poet and organizer of entertainment events. Basile composed texts for music performed by Adriana, wrote plays, poems, and verses, and organized masquerades and balls. This period of his life found reflection in the writer's works. Years later, Giambattista renounced the burdens of courtly duties and moved to southern Italy. There he managed the luxurious estates of noble dukes and princes. At the same time, Basile did not cease his literary activities. He hoped to gain recognition for his lyrical works and made repeated attempts to present them to the public. However, although his poetry collections were popular with readers, they did not bring him posthumous fame. The undying glory of Giambattista Basile was earned by 'Pentamerone' — a collection of colorful Italian tales written in a bright, lively Neapolitan dialect. Initially, these tales were gathered and literarily processed by Giambattista not for publication — presumably, they were intended for the amusement of noble ladies and gentlemen. Adriana decided to publish the collection after the writer's death, thereby immortalizing her brother's name. The tales have become a source of inspiration for many generations of writers, poets, and artists. In them, mighty heroes slay fierce dragons, and beautiful princesses grant their favor to fearless gallants. In these texts, justice inevitably triumphs, and the heroes of Italian folklore captivate with their charm.

This edition will introduce readers to selected tales by Giambattista Basile as processed by E. F. Strange. The wonderful stories are presented within the framing of colorful illustrations by British artist Warwick Goble (1862–1943), who masterfully depicted magnificent palaces, lush gardens, rich costumes, and breathtaking magical beings. The texts were translated from English by Dmitry Valeryevich Mochnev.

Artist: Warwick Goble