Literature in Galileo's library [Risorsa elettronica] / Crystal Hall.
Abstract:
The 195 entries in Antonio Favaro's first catalog of books in the library of Galileo Galilei would seem to be an eclectic collection of literary genres, and indeed, Favaro sorted them accordingly: literary criticism, grammar and rhetoric, Latin classics, Italian classics, various poetic works, drama and fables, novels (romanzi) and fiction, history, and festivals. A closer look at the identities of the authors of the texts and paratexts as well as the content of the books reveals a distinct trend across these categories. Over 60% of the works printed after 1610 contain either a direct or indirect connection to Galileo and his associates, the telescope, the compound microscope, or the discoveries with these instruments. This article aggregates modern scholarship on the literary texts in the library and adds new literary sightings of Galileo while indicating areas open for further scholarly investigation
Galileo and literature. p. 7-34