The New International Encyclopædia/Basile, Giovan Batista

BASILE, bȧ-sē′lā̇, Giovan Batista, Count of Torone (Seventeenth Century). An Italian author, born at Naples. His literary productions in the Neapolitan dialect are most valuable. His Pentamerone overo lo cunto de licunte, trattenemiento de li peccerille di Giov. Alesio Abbatutis (Naples, 1627; frequently reprinted), a collection of 50 folk-tales somewhat resembling the Decameron, is one of the most popular books of its kind, and has been translated into various European languages. English translation by J. E. Taylor (London, 1850).