Giovanni Battista Basile

Giovanni Battista Basile was an Italian writer and storyteller from the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He is best known for collecting and publishing fairy tales, most notably in his work "Lo cunto de li cunti" (The Tale of Tales). Basile’s stories are rich with imagination, featuring magical creatures, clever heroes, and moral lessons. His storytelling influenced later fairy tale writers, including the Brothers Grimm. His work is considered one of the earliest and most important contributions to European fairy tale literature, blending oral tradition with literary artistry.