The Cheese and the Worms is an incisive study of popular culture in the sixteenth century as seen through the eyes of one man; the miller known as Menocchio; who was accused of heresy during the Inquisition and sentenced to death. Carlo Ginzburg uses the trial records to illustrate the religious and social conflicts of the society Menocchio lived in. For a common miller; Menocchio was surprisingly literate. In his trial testimony he made references to more than a dozen books; including the Bible; Boccaccio's Decameron; Mandeville's Travels; and a "mysterious" book that may have been the Koran. And what he read he recast in terms familiar to him; as in his own version of the creation: "All was chaos; that is earth; air; water; and fire were mixed together; and of that bulk a mass formed―just as cheese is made out of milk―and worms appeared in it; and these were the angels."Ginzburg’s influential book has been widely regarded as an early example of the analytic; case-oriented approach known as microhistory. In a thoughtful new preface; Ginzburg offers his own corollary to Menocchio’s story as he considers the discrepancy between the intentions of the writer and what gets written. The Italian miller’s story and Ginzburg’s work continue to resonate with modern readers because they focus on how oral and written culture are inextricably linked. Menocchio’s 500-year-old challenge to authority remains evocative and vital today.
#2157984 in Books Atria Books 2009-02-03Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x 1.12 x 6.00l; 1.10 #File Name: 1416551107320 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A MASTERPIECE BY ALL MEANS!!!By Michele WrightFREEDOM BY ANY MEANS is an ingeniously crafted historical book BY ALL MEANS!!! I was more than intrigued to discover the other side of the story as it relates to African American history as I ventured into the world of the fifteen luminously untold stories uniquely documented by author Betty DeRamus.I was instantly mesmerized with this book the moment I began reading the opening story of John Bowley; a skillful ship carpenter and freed slave; who daringly and cunningly showed up at a Maryland Slave auction in the mid-1800's with nothing more than some bold guts and a clever plan in a successful attempt to secure the freedom of his wife Kessiah (the niece of Harriet Tubman - The "Moses of Her People") and their two children who were all scheduled to be sold at auction to another slave-owner.And I remained awestruck as I continued to read one untold historical event after another. And being a native of Tuskegee; Alabama; I was also intrigued with Tuskegee Institute's founder Booker T. Washington's description of the "grapevine telegram" - the invisible communication wire for slaves and freed blacks. Additionally; I was pleased to read an excerpt from a 1901 letter of Robert W. Taylor; financial secretary of Tuskegee Institute; to a newspaper editor concerning Harriet Tubman which reads; "She told me that when she found her mother unwilling to leave behind her feather bed tick; and her father his broad axe and other tools; she bundled up feather bed; broad axe; mother; father - all and landed them in Canada".This expertly compiled masterpiece of "untold" historical events brings a whole new but most tasteful depiction to the accounts of African American freedom and history. As opposed to viewing slaves as a people who secured freedom through fear and avoidance; you now can appreciate an enduring account of slaves as strong people with a large vision who strategically and cleverly devised an effective and commendable plan of action for freedom. This took not only gutsy creativity but brilliant implementation.And likewise; Author Betty DeRamus displays both gutsy creativity and brilliant implementation in her compilation of these remarkably documented untold stories. These intriguing pearls of history of American slavery should become integrated into the American history teaching curriculum of every educational facility. Needless to say; as author of "Freedom By Any means"; DeRamus continues her excellence in documenting tales of African American history that she commendably started in her first book; "Forbidden Fruit".0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Resources neededBy CmarieI find that this book has reliable information and is a start for those who are interested in recovering history that is truthful. The stories provided definitely add up; but they are lacking sources to additional means of history.My great; great; great grandfather has a short part in this book that should have led into the aftermath/outcome to his escape from slavery. Additional research provided for a more modern review would build a better path for readers like me to grasp an better understanding to a time so long ago.This book is really a great start to understanding truth in the American history and African descendant roots.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Simply A Beautiful BookBy V. HinesNo one; and I mean NO ONE writes like Miss Betty DeRamus! Her words are powerful; beautiful; and eloquent! She is one of my favorite writers of all time; a gift to us all.
