About the author
Laura Ackerman Smoller is the author of History, Prophecy, and the Stars: The Christian Astrology of Pierre d'Ailly, 1350-1420, published by Princeton University Press. The book is a scholarly study of the fifteenth-century cardinal and scholar Pierre d'Ailly, examining how his astrological and apocalyptic writings were received within a medieval church generally suspicious of astrology, and tracing their later influence, including on Christopher Columbus. It treats astrology as a subject of serious historical inquiry rather than a practice guide, situating d'Ailly's work within debates over prophecy, the stars, and Christian doctrine in late medieval Europe. The book is written for readers of medieval intellectual and religious history and for anyone interested in the historical relationship between astrology and institutional Christianity, rather than for practitioners of astrology looking for technique or contemporary application.
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💬 What our editors say about Laura Ackerman Smoller's books
“Smoller provides a rigorous academic analysis that illuminates Pierre d'Ailly’s complex intellectual tightrope. While valuable for historians of science and theology, this book does not suit casual readers seeking accessible…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on History, Prophecy, and the Stars: The Christian Astrology of Pierre d'Ailly, 1350-1420 - Ingram Academic Smoller, Laura Ackerman
“Smoller delivers a meticulous academic study that appeals primarily to specialists in medieval history, theology, and the history of science. While it offers invaluable insights into Pierre d'Ailly's complex thought process,…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on History, Prophecy, and the Stars: The Christian Astrology of Pierre d'Ailly, 1350-1420 - Ingram Academic Smoller, Laura Ackerman
