Point of View

The story is written from the perspective of Biagio, Cosimo's younger brother. It is in large part, however, Biagio's re-telling of the stories Cosimo recounts to him. Only when the boys are very young, and when they are very old is Cosimo continuously close enough to Ombrosa to allow Biagio to observe him directly. The rest of the time, as with the story of the Spaniards, the pirates, the beekeeping, Gian de Brughi, Viola, the fruit thieves—nearly every one of Cosimo's great adventures—Biagio is faithfully recording the details of stories Cosimo tells him. The other observances of Cosimo's life come from Biagio's observation of the people of the town, and Cosimo's influence over all of them. Nearly every one of his adventures changes something about how the people of the town relate to one another, such as when he motivates their formation...