New ArrivalsValentine’s DayHealth & WellnessClothing, Shoes & AccessoriesHomeKitchen & DiningGroceryHousehold EssentialsFurnitureOutdoor Living & GardenBabyToysVideo GamesElectronicsMovies, Music & BooksBeautyPersonal CareGift IdeasParty SuppliesCharacter ShopSports & OutdoorsBackpacks & LuggageSchool & Office SuppliesPetsUlta Beauty at TargetTarget OpticalGift CardsBullseye’s PlaygroundDealsClearanceTarget New Arrivals Target Finds #TargetStyleStore EventsAsian-Owned Brands at TargetBlack-Owned or Founded Brands at TargetLatino-Owned Brands at TargetWomen-Owned Brands at TargetLGBTQIA+ ShopTop DealsTarget Circle DealsWeekly AdShop Order PickupShop Same Day DeliveryRegistryRedCardTarget CircleFind Stores
The Barberini Butchers - by  Bradford A Bouley (Hardcover) - 1 of 1

The Barberini Butchers - by Bradford A Bouley (Hardcover)

$75.00

Pre-order

Eligible for registries and wish lists

About this item

Highlights

  • An examination of how the unsustainable consumption of meat in seventeenth-century Rome both symbolized the extent of papal power and sparked the outbreak of civil war In 1644 four norcini or pork butchers were accused of killing not pigs, but seven of their fellow citizens, stripping the meat from the bones, then combining it with pig to make sausages, which were then sold to Romans from their shop behind the Pantheon.
  • About the Author: Bradford A. Bouley is Associate Professor of History at University of California Santa Barbara.
  • 272 Pages
  • History, Europe

Description



Book Synopsis



An examination of how the unsustainable consumption of meat in seventeenth-century Rome both symbolized the extent of papal power and sparked the outbreak of civil war

In 1644 four norcini or pork butchers were accused of killing not pigs, but seven of their fellow citizens, stripping the meat from the bones, then combining it with pig to make sausages, which were then sold to Romans from their shop behind the Pantheon. In the multiple pamphlets describing this supposed crime, the authors of this accusation blamed residents of Rome themselves, who had become so obsessed with meat that they turned a blind eye to such horrendous acts. This fabricated story points to an underlying reality--that in the early seventeenth century, a series of popes dramatically increased the amount of food and wine consumed by Romans, culminating in a per capita consumption of over a pound of meat per day during the reign of Pope Urban VIII (d. 1644).

The Barberini Butchers traces the efforts and activities of a range of actors who strove to bring meat to the Roman table. Bradford A. Bouley shows how Rome's preoccupation with food was the result of papal policy in the aftermath of the Reformation; food, and especially meat, served as religious and political propaganda, symbolizing the correctness of the Catholic faith and demonstrating the extent of papal power. Bouley details the dramatic reorganization of Roman foodways needed to satisfy this demand for meat, as large herds of animals had to be funneled from the countryside to the city. This consumption was ultimately not sustainable, triggering a crisis that fueled sensational rumors of murder and cannibalism and eventually, Bouley contends, sparked the outbreak of civil war, as vassals rebelled against papal oversight.

The Barberini Butchers recovers this significant episode in food, environmental, and cultural history, one that brings early modern politics and history into conversation with concerns over human use of natural resources and consumption of animal products that continue to resonate clearly today.



About the Author



Bradford A. Bouley is Associate Professor of History at University of California Santa Barbara. He is the author of Pious Postmortems: Anatomy, Sanctity, and the Catholic Church in Early Modern Europe, also available from the University of Pennsylvania Press.
Dimensions (Overall): 9.0 Inches (H) x 6.0 Inches (W)
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 272
Genre: History
Sub-Genre: Europe
Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press
Theme: Italy
Format: Hardcover
Author: Bradford A Bouley
Language: English
Street Date: May 26, 2026
TCIN: 1004177192
UPC: 9781512829457
Item Number (DPCI): 247-30-9019
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
If the item details aren’t accurate or complete, we want to know about it.

Shipping details

Estimated ship dimensions: 1 inches length x 6 inches width x 9 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 1 pounds
We regret that this item cannot be shipped to PO Boxes.
This item cannot be shipped to the following locations: American Samoa (see also separate entry under AS), Guam (see also separate entry under GU), Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico (see also separate entry under PR), United States Minor Outlying Islands, Virgin Islands, U.S., APO/FPO

Return details

This item can be returned to any Target store or Target.com.
This item must be returned within 90 days of the date it was purchased in store, shipped, delivered by a Shipt shopper, or made ready for pickup.
See the return policy for complete information.

Additional product information and recommendations

Get top deals, latest trends, and more.

Privacy policy

Footer

About Us

About TargetCareersNews & BlogTarget BrandsBullseye ShopSustainability & GovernancePress CenterAdvertise with UsInvestorsAffiliates & PartnersSuppliersTargetPlus

Help

Target HelpReturnsTrack OrdersRecallsContact UsFeedbackAccessibilitySecurity & FraudTeam Member ServicesLegal & Privacy

Stores

Find a StoreClinicPharmacyTarget OpticalMore In-Store Services

Services

Target Circle™Target Circle™ CardTarget Circle 360™Target AppRegistrySame Day DeliveryOrder PickupDrive UpFree 2-Day ShippingShipping & DeliveryMore Services
PinterestFacebookInstagramXYoutubeTiktokTermsCA Supply ChainPrivacy PolicyCA Privacy RightsYour Privacy ChoicesInterest Based AdsHealth Privacy Policy