In the Land of Marvels: Science, Fabricated Realities, and Industrial Espionage in the Age of the Grand Tour.

"In the Land of Marvels: Science, Fabricated Realities, and Industrial Espionage in the Age of the Grand Tour" by Paola Bertucci explores the phenomenon of medical electricity in the 18th century. The book reveals that the investigation of electrical cures by French savant Jean-Antoine Nollet was actually a cover for industrial espionage commissioned by the French state. Nollet used his persona as a disinterested savant to gather information on silk manufacture in Italy, ultimately contributing to the supplanting of Italian silk production internationally. The book also challenges the stereotype of Italian scientific culture as outdated and promotes a deeper understanding of the nature of Enlightenment and the Grand Tour. [Extracted from the article]