the secret world of Benedetto Blanis Goldberg, Edward L. 1948- creator text bibliography biography Electronic books. onc Toronto [Ont.] University of Toronto Press c2011 2011) 2011 2011 monographic eng

electronic resource

1 online resource (xiv, 331 p., [16] p. of plates) : ill., facsims., geneal. table, ports., digital file. Edward Goldberg reveals the dramas of daily life behind the scenes in the Pitti Palace and in the narrow byways of the Florentine Ghetto, using thousands of new documents from the Medici Granducal Archive. He shows that truth - especially historical truth - can be stranger than fiction, when viewed through the eyes of the people most immediately involved."--Pub. desc. "In the seventeenth century, Florence was the splendid capital of the Medici Grand Dukedom of Tuscany. Meanwhile, the Jews in its tiny Ghetto struggled to earn a living by any possible means, especially loan-sharking, rag-picking and second-hand dealing. They were viewed as an uncanny people with rare supernatural powers, and Benedetto Blanis - a businessman and aspiring scholar from a distinguished Ghetto dynasty - sought to parlay his alleged mastery of astrology, alchemy and Kabbalah into a grand position at the Medici Court. He won the patronage of Don Giovanni dei Medici, a scion of the ruling family, and for six tumultuous years their lives were inextricably linked. The piazza -- The palace. The Medici family ; Palazzo Pitti ; Don Giovanni dei Medici ; Benedetto Blanis at court -- The ghetto. Benedetto at home ; The Blanis family ; The creation of the ghetto ; Segregation, conversation, and confusion ; Ghetto government ; Benedetto's neighbours -- The synagogue. The synagogue as it was ; On the bench ; Men of authority ; Quarrels and dissension ; Italians and Levantines -- Memory and survival. The Jewish year ; Home and family ; Observance ; Justice and commandments -- The market. Shopping ; Market and ghetto ; Blanis and sons ; Stolen goods ; Scrocchi Barocchi ; Rich Jews -- Knowledge and power. Books ; Tree of Kabbalah ; Medicean planets ; Silver, gold, and grappa ; The fish pond -- Games of chance. Porta al prato ; Risky business ; Jew mad Christian -- The mirror of truth. On the road ; Venice ; The mirror of truth ; At home with Livia and Don Giovanni ; Fire at the fair ; Florence -- The magic circle. Fellow travellers ; The late Cosimo Ridolfi ; The workshop ; The apprentice -- Curious and forbidden books. Passover and Easter ; Days of scruples ; Holy cross ; Bad Jew ; Business as usual (I) ; Divine favours ; Jews and converts ; Business as usual (II) -- Prison. Misery and woe ; Beginning of the end ; Cosmic battle ; Out of sight and out of mind -- Habeas Corpus? Edward Goldberg. Includes bibliographical references (p. [307]-312) and index. e-it--- Blanis, Benedetto ca. 1580-1647 Correspondence Blanis, Benedetto ca. 1580-1647 Medici, Giovanni de' 1567-1621 Jews Italy Florence Social life and customs 17th century Jews Italy Florence Biography Florence (Italy) Social life and customs 17th century HISTORY / Europe / Italy DG738.23 .G64 2011eb 945/.5100492409032 9781442693494 (electronic bk.) 1442693495 (electronic bk.) http://site.ebrary.com/id/10488800 http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=483332 http://celarc.ca/covers/436/436471.jpg http://site.ebrary.com/id/10488800 http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=483332 http://celarc.ca/covers/436/436471.jpg QE2 100924 20200709055605.0 ocn755882735 eng