Demoni, linguaggio e significati nell’Europa della prima età moderna. Due anniversari e un libro recente

Abstract

The study of demonology currently occupies an important place in research concerned with early modern Europe. In this essay I analyze, from a historiographical point of view, the relevance of the conceptual contributions of Sydney Anglo and, especially, Stuart Clark to this field. After establishing the main lines of analysis that the works of these two historians have opened up for research, a book recently edited by Jan Machielsen is analyzed, with the aim of assessing the scope and perspectives of historical investigation into the science of demons between the 15th and 18th centuries.