Can a “nightmare” kill?

The seventeenth century was the era of the affirmation of scientific thought . The idea began to make its way that natural phenomena should be studied and experimented with in order to define the laws of nature , which were physical, mathematical, chemical laws, in short, scientific and certainly not magical or even religious.

Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton were the first and greatest protagonists of this moment of change . They paved the way for scientists who came after them, they also opened minds to new possibilities, to follow new paths. In reality, for a long time science found itself coexisting with magic, so much so that beliefs and superstitions did not only belong to the common people, but also to scientists and men of culture. Let's take as an example Tycho Brahe (1546-1601) and Johannes Kepler (1571-1630), two of the great protagonists of the scientific revolution of the seventeenth century. With their observations of the sky they allowed astronomy to make a notable leap forward compared to the past , but these two scientists had another thing in common: they were great scholars of astrology, so much so that they held the position of official astrologer at the emperor's court . Their story is therefore the demonstration of how in the 17th century there was still a mix between science and ancient beliefs and superstitions , even in the most culturally elevated and refined environments of Europe. Occult arts, magic, astrology and spiritualism found credence in the most varied social environments, not excluding the refined salons of high society, and sometimes to the advantage of improvised magicians, ready to exploit the naivety of others to obtain money and prestige.

In this era full of contradictions and precariously balanced between rationality and irrationality, moves Friar Girolamo Svampa , an inquisitor and investigator born from the imagination of Marcello Simoni , one of the masters of the Italian historical novel. In his latest adventure "The Stone Angel" (Einaudi, 2025, pp. 272, also e-book), Fra' Girolamo deals with a murderer of women who moves between the world of dreams and reality, leaving behind a scent of flowers . To stop him, someone is needed who can resist suggestion and deception, an individual with iron rationality. Someone like our Dominican friar, who however will have to be very careful where he puts his feet. Also because intellectual pride has always created problems for Fra' Girolamo Svampa, ever since his years in Rome. The situation has not improved since he moved to Ferrara, where he was recently appointed general inquisitor. His surly character, lacking empathy, shows no signs of weakening even when faced with the plea of a young aristocrat, who swears that she was carnally subjugated by an incubus, a mysterious demon.

Dismissing the girl with condescension, however, turns out to be a grave mistake. While his enemies weave increasingly dangerous plots against him, Svampa must face murders that seem to be attributable to supernatural forces . At his side, in these tumultuous waters, are the beautiful Margherita Basile, lover, artist and spy, the courageous warrior Cagnolo Alfieri, and Father Francesco Capiferro, a Dominican brother endowed with an extraordinary culture. However, even among friends, it is best to never lower one's guard, especially when dark and mysterious forces move through the streets of Ferrara. Forces capable of making reason waver and subjugating even the best.