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Giuseppe Pitr?, a nineteenth-century Sicilian physician, gathered an enormous wealth of folk and fairy tales as he traveled and treated the poor throughout Palermo. He also received tales from friends and scholars throughout the island of Sicily. A dedicated folklorist, whose significance ranks alongside the Brothers Grimm, he published a 25-volume collection of Sicilian folk tales, legends, songs, and customs between 1871 and 1914. Though first published in their original Sicilian dialect, these tales have never before been translated, collected, and published in English until now. This historic two-volume set collects 300 and 100 variants of his most entertaining and most important folk and fairy tales, along with lively, vivid illustrations by Carmelo Lettere. In stark contrast to the more literary ambitions of the Grimms' tales, Pitr?’s possess a charming, earthy quality that reflect the customs, beliefs, and superstitions of the common people more clearly than any other European folklore collection of the nineteenth century. Edited, translated, and with a critical introduction by world-renowned folk and fairy tale experts Jack Zipes and Joseph Russo, this collection will firmly establish Pitr?’s importance as a folklorist.
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The Collected Sicilian Folk and Fairy Tales of Giuseppe Pitrè Volume 1 & 2 Figure 1. Photo of Giuseppe Pitrè as an older man. Figure 11. Drawing of Giuseppe Pitrè. The Collected Sicilian Folk and Fairy Tales of Giuseppe Pitrè Volume 1 & 2 Translated and Edited by Jack Zipes and Joseph Russo Illustrated by Carmelo Lettere First published 2009 by Routledge 270 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016 Simultaneously published in the UK by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2008. “To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.” © 2009 Taylor & Francis All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Pitrè, Giuseppe, 1841–1916. [Selections. English 2008] The collected Sicilian folk and fairy tales of Giuseppe Pitrè / translated and edited by Jack Zipes and Joseph Russo ; illustrated by Carmelo Lettere. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978–0–415–98032–6 (the set. : alk. paper) – ISBN 978–0–415–98030–2 (volume 1 : alk. paper) – ISBN 978–0–415–98031–9 (volume 2 : alk. paper) 1. Tales – Italy – Sicily. 2. Folklore – Italy – Sicily. I. Zipes, Jack David. II. Russo, Joseph. III. Title. GR177.S5P425 2008 398.209458 – dc22 2007051729 ISBN 0-203-92790-7 Master e-book ISBN ISBN10: 0–415–98030–5 (hbk volume 1) ISBN10: 0–415–98031–3 (hbk volume 2) ISBN10: 0–415–98032–1 (hbk 2-volume set) ISBN10: 0–203–92790–7 (ebk 2-volume set) ISBN13: 978–0–415–98030–2 (hbk volume 1) ISBN13: 978–0–415–98031–9 (hbk volume 2) ISBN13: 978–0–415–98032–6 (hbk 2-volume set) ISBN13: 978–0–203–92790–8 (ebk 2-volume set) To the memory of my grandfather, Vittorio Pollina, who first told me some of these tales, and to my grandchildren, Maisie Wise Guzi and Phineas Butterworth O’Brien, to whom I pass them on. Joseph Russo To Pier Carlo Bontempelli, friend and bodyguard, and to my sisters, Phyllis Lakow and Iris Egan,