Professor Lesley Smith
Professor of Medieval Intellectual History; Fellow in Politics
Harris Manchester College
Research Interests
- Medieval Intellectual History
- The Bible in the Middle Ages
- Medieval Manuscripts
I work on the medieval Bible, as both a physical and intellectual object. This ranges from close technical work with manuscripts of Bibles, biblical commentary, theology and pastoralia, to the exposition of commentary and theology, to investigation of the intellectual milieu of the schools in which the Bible was studied – the people and the products of this early university system, from the twelfth century onwards. In particular, I explore the two-way link between the manuscript evidence and the intellectual evidence of these early schools – in modern terms, how technology affects what we learn and know, and vice versa. The study of the Bible has also led me to contribute to the study of medieval Jewish-Christian scholarship and relations.
Publications
Fragments of a World: William of Auvergne and His Medieval Life
The first modern biography of medieval French scholar and bishop William of Auvergne.
Today, William of Auvergne (1180?–1249) is remembered for his scholarship about the afterlife as well as the so-called Trial of the Talmud. But the medieval bishop of Paris also left behind nearly 600 sermons delivered to all manner of people—from the royal court to the poorest in his care. In Fragments of a World, Lesley Smith uses these sermons to paint a vivid picture of this extraordinary cleric, his parishioners, and their bustling world.
DPhil Students
I would like to hear from potential DPhil students in the fields: Medieval intellectual history, widely defined; history of exegesis, biblical studies and theology; history of the university. Manuscript studies.