"The previously unpublished manuscript titled Historia delle sante vergini forastiere paves the way to an investigation on the role of the Oratorian Antonio Gallonio within the newly established Congregation of the Oratory and the use of historical and hagiographic studies during the Catholic Reformation. The analysis focuses on his personal collection of printed and handwritten documents and aims to shed light on Gallonio the hagiographer as well as the man of letters, and on his apologetic and Romanocentric stance."--Back cover.