Giambattista Basile

Giambattista Basile (1575–1632) was an Italian writer. Born near Naples, he worked in a variety of professions. He wrote fables from a young age, later producing occasional poetry for different patrons, and became a member of a literary academy in Crete. While serving the Count of Acerenza, he completed his major work, “The Tale of Tales,” a notable collection of stories.