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We should consider the growing weight of probable opinions in the early modern world against the backdrop of the evolution of belief as described by Shagan: it does not seem risky to see in the probable opinions discussed by early modern moral theologians the same blurring of boundaries between opinion, belief, and knowledge seen in Shagan's reconstruction. Shagan's archeology of the notion of "belief"; Ryrie's use of the history of emotions in the study of doubt; Tutino's exploration of the often-surprising world of probabilism: each of these approaches offers a valuable contribution to the understanding of early modern culture and of the place of uncertainty therein. Modern Western society may have lost the perception of the risks inherent to belief or doubt: wrong, lukewarm, or idiosyncratic belief and doubt no longer trigger the "spiritual turmoil" described by Shagan and Ryrie. Here Shagan highlights the inherent paradox (or, as he puts it, the "tension") of Protestant belief: on the one hand it was "an understanding of "belief" as utterly incompatible with doubt"; yet, on the other hand, it was "a theology of human depravity demanding that even the elect remain mired in uncertainty" (134). [Extracted from the article]

This article analyses a little known Christian epic poem, the Christiade by Francesco Sovaro. Printed in Naples in 1539, the poem is a mosaic of passages from the Gospels offering a synoptic version of the life of Christ. I argue that the Christiade represents not only a literary work, but also a tool for approaching the Gospels and for practicing domestic devotion. The Christiade could either be read in its entirety as a poem, or be perused as a handbook thanks to its paratextual apparatuses (glosse and tavole) which related passages in the poem to the Sunday Gospels. Readers could thus prepare themselves for Mass or meditate upon what they had heard at church. This article explores the Christiade within the context of contemporary Neapolitan culture, with special attention to print industry, book-trade, religious poetry and the questione della lingua. This article also sets the Christiade against the background of the spread of heterodox ideas in mid-Cinquecento Naples, and considers it as a contrast to such ideas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reviews the book "Firenze nell'età romanica (1000-1211). L'espansione urbana, lo sviluppo istituzionale, il rapporto con il territorio," by Enrico Faini.

Several books are reviewed, including "A History of Murder: Personal Violence in Europe from the Middle Ages to the Present" by Pieter Spierenburg, "Bayern und Italien: Kontinuität und Wandel ihrer traditionellen Bindungen," edited by Hans-Michael Körner and Florian Schuller, and "Heinrich IV.," edited by Gerd Althoff, volume 59 in the series Vorträge und Forschungen.

Books reviewed in this article: Richard Friberg, Exchange Rates and the Firm: Strategies to Manage Exposure and the Impact of EMU Stephen Cecchetti, Hans Genberg, John Lipsky, and Sunil Wadhwani, Asset Prices and Central Bank Policy Michael J. Greenwood and John M. McDowell, Legal U.S. Immigration: Influences on Gender, Age, and Skill Composition Pontus Braunerhjelm, Riccardo Faini, Victor Norman, Frances Ruane, and Paul Seabright, Integration and the Regions of Europe: How the Right Policies Can Prevent Polarization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reviews the book 'Modeling Growing Economies in Equilibrium and Disequilibrium,' edited by Allen C. Kelley, Warren C. Sanderson and Jeffrey G. Williamson.

Reviews the book 'General Equilibrium Models for Development Policy,' by Kemal Dervis, Jaime de Melo and Sherman Robinson.

The article reviews the book "Economic Impact of EU Membership on Entrants: New Methods and Issues," edited by Richard E. Baldwin and Aymo Brunetti.

Reviews the book "Bringing Learning to Life: The Reggio Approach to Early Childhood Education," by L. Cadwell.