Some fictional characters seem to live forever. Take, for instance, Pinocchio—marionette-turned-boy—whose tell-tale extendable nose gives him away every time he tells a lie. Pinocchio was first introduced in the 1800s by Florentine writer Carlo Lorenzini (1826-1890)—better known by the pen name Carlo Collodi—in a series for an Italian children’s journal.

Eventually, the writer grew weary of his character and killed him off (Arrivederci, Pinocchio!) By popular demand (and his editor’s nudgings), Collodi was forced to bring the dowel-nosed rascal back to life. The series eventually led to The Adventures of Pinocchio, a novel published in 1883.