Arpino, Giovanni (1927–87), Italian writer, poet, journalist, and playwright. He made his debut with picaresque adventure tales, but is best known as a novelist whose style evolved from neo‐realism to neo‐naturalism, with La suora giovane (The Novice: A Novel, 1959), and L'ombra delle colline (The Shade of the Hills, 1964). In the later period he wrote surrealistic and allegoric tales. His fairy tales, such as ‘Shiff il verme’ (‘Shiff the Worm’), and ‘I peccati di Pinocchio’ (‘The Sins of Pinocchio’), explore the themes of self‐identity and freedom. His complete tales are in Un gran mare di gente (A Great Sea of People, 1981) and Raccontami una storia (Tell Me a Story, 1982). He wrote the following works for children: Rafè e micropiede (1959), Le mille e una Italia (The Thousand and One Italies, 1960), and L'assalto al treno (The Attack of the Train, 1966).
— Maria Nicolai Paynter
