Pinocchio is probably the most widely known Italian puppet. In what is presented as the first scholarly study of this subject in English, a retired academic/puppeteer teams with an Italian theater critic and an associate of the International Puppet Museum in Palermo to trace the rich heritage of Italian puppetry. They describe its social and sometimes subversive political roles from the 16th century to modern times; relationship to Commedia dell'Arte, opera, and drama; repertoire; offstage techniques; and the longstanding companies, Lupi (Turin) and Fratelli Napoli (Catania). The book includes b&w and color illustrations, diagrams of marionettes from the 18th century to the early 20th century, a glossary, and extensive reference material. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)