Historian Carlo Ginzburg, master of microhistory, dies at 87

Carlo Ginzburg, a towering figure in Italian historiography and a pioneer of microhistory, has died at the age of 87. His passing was announced by the Polo del '900 cultural center in Turin, where he had been active. His daughter, writer Lisa Ginzburg, shared a poignant farewell on Instagram.

Ginzburg, born in Turin in 1939, was celebrated for his deep dives into the popular culture of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. His seminal 1976 work, "The Cheese and the Worms" (Il formaggio e i vermi), reconstructed the worldview of a 16th-century Friulian miller, offering a unique perspective on the era's beliefs and practices. This book became a classic, widely translated and influential in the field of microhistory.

Beyond his specific studies, Ginzburg was also a significant theorist of historical methodology. He held professorships at prestigious institutions including the University of Bologna, the Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa, and UCLA. His work often challenged conventional historical narratives, focusing on marginalized voices and popular beliefs. He was also known for his intellectual engagement with contemporary Italian society, notably his defense of Adriano Sofri, a leftist journalist convicted in a high-profile case.

His contributions extended to understanding witchcraft and popular mentality, with works like "The Night Battles" (Storia notturna). Ginzburg's critical approach and his ability to illuminate the past through meticulous research cemented his legacy as one of Italy's most brilliant critical thinkers.

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With Carlo Ginzburg disappears one of the most brilliant figures of Italian critical thought, who accompanied the life of our city.