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Giulio Cesare Croce’s Le Sottilissime Astuzie di Bertoldo or The Extremely Subtle Tricks of Bertoldo is a humorous work of fiction written in 1609. This translation of a long-forgotten Italian gem from the early modern period captures the story of Bertoldo, a farmer compelled to leave his family to seek better fortune in, of all places, the court of King Alboin, a fictional royal presumably in what is now north Italy. From the beginning, the tension between the two is palpable. Verbal jabs and numerous rejoinders between the two unlikely duo spark flames. Bertoldo-whose intellect is impressive and communication skills outstanding-outperforms the king consistently, causing dents to his royal highness’ pride. To the king, however, the multiple interactions with Bertoldo make his talent evident, and this the king is prepared to fully exploit. Bertoldo, a displaced peasant, helps the king resolve complicated issues that come before his court. For instance, by deploying a trick, he undermines a request from the well-to-do women of the court for political participation commensurate with the men’s. This infuriates the queen, placing Bertoldo on the run for his life. He uses many tricks to ingratiate himself to the king, to impress him, to solve the king’s court challenges, and to most importantly attempt to stay alive.Marinated in much humor, particularly in the rejoinders between Bertoldo and the king, there is a thought-provoking story that touches on issues of justice, equality, fairness, and ethics. The source for much pleasure from reading this gem of old is Bertoldo, an unattractive and marginalized figure whose ability to deploy tricks is entertaining. Will he survive the fury of the queen? Will the king abandon him?
