Page 427 - The Grotesque Children's Book

Authors’ Biographies

Roberto Cardano. 1579-1660.
Cardano was the grandson of Gerolano
Cardano. Cardano's father was tried and
beheaded in 1560 for poisoning his wife,
after he discovered that their three children
were not his. Roberto was raised by his
grandfather, and inherited his passion for
working with the deaf. He was an
unsuccessful poet and novelist, but
eventually found a modicum of success
assisting burgeoning chemist Robert Boyle,
until Cardano accused Boyle of plagiarism
and the ensuing lawsuits continued for the
remainder of Cardano’s life. Scholars debate whether this portrait by
Parmigianino in the Galleria Borghese is indeed of Cordano or an entirely
different man.

Matthew Pellinori is the
pseudonym of the fictitious translator of
The Grotesque Children’s Book. He
writes travel essays for Esquire,
Outside, and Atlantic Monthly. His
previous novels include A Fleckless
Life, Chewy Spittle, and The Secret Life
of Squirrels. Scholars do not debate the authenticity of his photo: it is inauthentic.

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