The first English edition of the famous Rodari story was published in the United States. The illustrations were created by Russian artist Dasha Tolstikova.
American independent publisher Enchanted Lion Books has published Gianni Rodari's “The Adventures of Cipollino” for the first time in English. The book, first published in Italy in 1951, remained inaccessible to English-speaking audiences for decades – despite its popularity worldwide.
The translation of the fairy tale into English was carried out by Antony Shugaar, and the visual form of the work was created by artist Dasha Tolstikova, who, as the publishers claim, brought her love for Cipollino from Russia. For this publication, she made watercolor illustrations that bring to life personified characters – the onion boy Cipollino, Signor Tomato, Baron Orange, the maid Zemlyanichka and others.
Reporting on this, the influential American literary magazine Kirkus characterized the story for readers as follows: “Cipollino bravely carried out his father's orders and set out into the big world to find out what kind of scoundrels there are in the world. Despite his multiple prison sentences (“What else can you expect?” the narrator sarcastically commented. “If you were born an onion, you would have to shed tears”), the hero always confronts his noble defense in the cold. Victory: The Republic was proclaimed, the last prince had his head buried in dung, and the castle was turned into a playground.”
Illustration image on the information portal GodLiterature.RF.
