In the Room of the Circles: The Inquisition and Books of Magic in Early Modern Venice

This book investigates the circulation, regulation, and interpretation of magical texts, focusing on the Clavicula Salomonis (Key of Solomon), one of the most sought-after and feared books of the time.

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.