Rietbergen (post-medieval cultural history, Radboud U., Nijmegen, the Netherlands) assembles eight essays on Rome in the 17th century that look at high culture such as architecture, music, poetry, and scholarship but also at low culture such as ceremonial and ritual behavior and even magic. His topics include the Barberini build a chapel, the days and works of Cardinal Francesco Barberini, the bare feet of Saint Augustine, and Urban VIII between white magic and black magic. Only names are indexed. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)