The Cheese and the Worms

The book delves into the life of Domenico Scandella, known as Menocchio, a miller from 16th-century Italy.

Menocchio's unique religious beliefs and cosmogony, which included the idea that the universe began as chaos and formed like cheese with worms emerging as angels, led to his trials and eventual execution by the Roman Inquisition.

Ginzburg's work uses Menocchio's case to explore broader cultural shifts, literacy, and resistance among the peasant class during this period.

The book is a significant example of microhistory, shedding light on the intersections of written and oral culture in shaping peasant thought.