The present study examines Gianni Rodari’s The Twice-Born Baron (C’era due volte il barone Lamberto) through the thematic lenses of language, identity, collective memory, and immortality. The theoretical framework integrates Paul Ricoeur’s hermeneutic approach to the interplay between language and identity, Maurice Halbwachs’ theory of collective memory, and Northrop Frye’s concept of immortality in narrative form. In the novel, the motif “You live as long as your name is spoken” operates as a multilayered metaphor, symbolising both the construction of identity through language and the continuity of memory. The disruption of this ritual underscores the fragility of existence and the narrative’s role in shaping identity, particularly within the communal sphere. Furthermore, the novel’s invitation to the reader to alter the story is analysed in light of Umberto Eco’s Open Work theory, emphasising the significance of reader participation in narrative construction. Ultimately, the work transcends its fairy-tale framework, offering a multifaceted literary experience that intertwines language, memory, and active reader engagement.

Keywords: Gianni Rodari, language and identity, collective memory, immortality, open work