Cuore (Heart): An Italian Schoolboy's Journal

by Edmondo De Amicis

"Cuore (Heart): An Italian Schoolboy's Journal" by Edmondo De Amicis is a children's novel published in 1886. Written as a diary, it follows eleven-year-old Enrico Bottini through his third-grade year in Turin, where he navigates friendships with classmates from diverse backgrounds. Through daily entries and monthly moral tales, the novel explores themes of compassion, family devotion, and Italian patriotism during the unification era. Each story presents different ethical lessons, from helping the poor to honoring one's country, creating a portrait of childhood shaped by social awareness and national identity.