States of enmity

'This fascinating volume represents a significant contribution to the study of early modern history in the Kingdom of Naples. Through a series of meticulously researched and thoughtfully presented case studies, "States of Enmity" investigates the cultural and anthropological framework that influenced the dynamics of hatred, vendetta, law-breaking, dissent, peace-making and religious devotion. As the author convincingly shows, these factors played a crucial role in defining the connections and distances between the provinces of the Kingdom and the centres of power in the capital, Naples.'
Lorenza Gianfrancesco, University of Chichester

'All in all, this is a significant contribution to our understanding of why the Kingdom of Naples began to diverge from Northern Italy... Cummins is to be congratulated for showing the extent to which enmity continued to shape Neapolitan society at the end of the seventeenth century and the ways in which it shaped
the Neapolitan Enlightenment.'
Stuart Carroll, European History Quarterly

'In States of Enmity, Stephen Cummins offers a significant contribution to the history of violence through
the lens of enmity and hatred, focusing on the mid-seventeenth century in the Kingdom of Naples...This is an ambitious but compact book, which attempts to cover a lot of ground through a case study approach, allowing Cummins to advance several arguments...This book offers scholars of the history of violence and of early modern Naples a foundation for understanding the patterns of violence and hatred that plagued
southern Italy.'
Celeste McNamara, American Historical Review