1st Edition
In the Room of the Circles The Inquisition and Books of Magic in Early Modern Venice
Introduction 1. The possibilities of the text 2. Readers 3. Exchanges and Censorship 4. La Clavicula in the cloister: the trials against Friar Ignazio Verigola and Friar Giuseppe Bregolati 5. Reading and writing 6. In the room of the circles: rabbis and tailors
Biography
Federico Barbierato is a historian specializing in Early Modern history and historical anthropology. He teaches at the University of Verona and the Università della Svizzera Italiana in Lugano. His research explores the history of religious dissent, unbelief, and magical practices and cultures in Early Modern Europe, with a particular focus on the Republic of Venice. He has extensively studied the circulation of forbidden books, the dynamics of censorship, and the interactions between learned and popular beliefs. His work combines archival research with an anthropological approach, shedding light on the complex relationships between power, knowledge, and heterodoxy in Early Modern Europe.
‘Federico Barbierato’s book was first published in Italian in 2002 and was a groundbreaking contribution to the fields of book history and cultural studies. Its originality of approach and exceptional quality of writing set it apart at the time … I strongly believe that releasing a revised, updated edition in English translation will be both valuable and timely’ - Mario Infelise, Università Ca' Foscari, Italy.
