Heart (novel)

Heart (Italian: Cuore [ˈkwɔːre]) is a children's novel by the Italian author Edmondo De Amicis who was a novelist, journalist, short story writer, and poet. The novel is his best known work to this day, having been inspired by his own children Furio and Ugo who had been schoolboys at the time. It is set during the Italian unification, and includes several patriotic themes. It was issued in Milan by Treves on October 18, 1886, the first day of school in Italy, and rose to immediate success. In 1892, Treves published the first illustrated edition, with illustrations by Arnaldo Ferraguti, Enrico Nardi, and Giulio Aristide Sartorio. Through its investigation of social issues such as poverty, Heart shows the influence of left-wing ideologies on De Amicis' work (he later joined the Italian Socialist Party). Because of this, the book remained influential (and the staple of many textbooks) in countries of the Eastern Bloc. On the other hand, the book's strong evocation of Italian nationalism and patriotism also made it welcome in Fascist Italy.