Laura Ackerman Smoller

About the Author

Laura Ackerman Smoller is a distinguished historian specializing in the intellectual and religious history of late medieval and early modern Europe. With a PhD from Harvard University, she has held faculty positions at prestigious institutions, including the University of Arkansas, where she teaches courses on the history of science, apocalyptic thought, and the interplay between religion and politics. Her research delves into the fascinating world of saints' cults, prophecies, and the dissemination of knowledge in pre-modern societies, often drawing on archival sources to illuminate how ordinary people engaged with the divine. Smoller's work bridges the gap between scholarly rigor and accessible narrative, making complex historical phenomena vivid and relatable for a broad audience. In her acclaimed book, The Saint and the Chopped-Up Baby: The Cult of Vincent Ferrer in Medieval and Early Modern Europe, she explores the enduring legacy of a Dominican preacher through miraculous tales and cultural analysis.