Aleksei Tolstoy

Tolstoy, Aleksei (1882/3–1945), Russian novelist. He wrote The Golden Key, or The Adventures of Burattino (1935), the Russian version of Pinocchio, far more famous in Russia than the original. Instead of the individual dilemma of Pinocchio, striving to become a real boy, Tolstoy focuses on the collective achievements of a group of puppets, revolting against the tyrannical puppeteer and becoming their own masters. The adventure and struggle are highlighted, while the philosophical and existential aspects of Collodi's novel are deleted. Burattino has become one of the most popular characters of Russian children's literature, almost a national hero.

— Maria Nikolajeva