First, a quick note. This episode isn't any more violent than the others,

but I feel like Pinocchio might draw some people who want to listen with their young children.

Please don't. This isn't the popular version you probably know, but rather the original.

See the episode post on mythpodcast.com for a list of what I'm talking about.

This week, on Myths and Legends, it's the original story of Pinocchio,

where you'll see that if your newborn puppet sun starts his life by stealing your wig and then

breaking your nose, you're in for a rough childhood. The creature this time is a giant grasshopper

who just wants to be left alone to shop for groceries. The only issue, his cart is full of children.

This is Myths and Legends, episode 112A. No strings attached.

This is a podcast right now stories from mythology and folklore. Some are incredibly popular

stories you think you know, but with surprising origins. Other stories that might be new to you,

but are definitely worth a listen. Today, it's the original story of Pinocchio, a literary fairy tale,

originally published in the 1880s by Italian writer Carlo Colaudi. It was originally a serialized

story published in a newspaper in Rome, but it was so popular it was doubled in length and turned

into a novel after it was bought by a publisher. Today, we're going to get through pretty much

all of the original serial, and include the author's original Groovesomending. But today's story

doesn't start with Pinocchio or even Jepetto. It starts with an old carpenter who has a bad temper.

Master Antonio was excited. It didn't take much, apparently. Just an ugly piece of wood

to finish his table. He found the wood walking along the road and thought it was the perfect

piece of boring wood to finish his moderately boring table. It was a good day. He snatched the

piece and took it back to his workshop, knowing that even ugly things could contain beauty underneath.

Also, it was free wood to finish his table, and it had been honest to do list for months,

...