Giambattista Basile

Giambattista Basile, born on February fifteenth, fifteen sixty-six in Naples, was a multifaceted Italian writer, poet, and fairy tale collector. He emerged from a middle-class family and served as a soldier and courtier to various Italian princes, including the doge of Venice. His literary journey began in Venice, where he started writing poetry, before returning to Naples to serve under the patronage of Don Marino II Caracciolo, the prince of Avellino.

Basile's literary contributions began in sixteen oh four with a preface to the Vaiasseide of his friend Giulio Cesare Cortese. His villanella, Smorza crudel amore, was set to music in the following year, and in sixteen oh eight, he published his poignant poem Il Pianto della Vergine. His works reflect a deep engagement with the cultural and artistic currents of his time.

He is best known for his collection of Neapolitan fairy tales titled Lo cunto de li cunti overo lo trattenemiento de peccerille, which translates to 'The Tale of Tales, or Entertainment for Little Ones.' This collection, published posthumously in two volumes by his sister Adriana in Naples in sixteen thirty-four and sixteen thirty-six under the pseudonym Gian Alesio Abbatutis, is now commonly referred to as Il Pentamerone.

Despite being overlooked for a time, Basile's work gained significant recognition after the Brothers Grimm praised it as the first national collection of fairy tales. His tales, set in the enchanting landscapes of Basilicata, particularly around the city of Acerenza, include some of the oldest known variants of popular stories, such as Rapunzel and Cinderella. Notably, Basile was the first to introduce the figure of the ogre into fairy tales, leaving an indelible mark on the genre.