In honor of the passing of IAS Professor Patricia Crone, Princeton Magazine reprises the following article which appears unchanged from the time of its original publication in the Town Topics Newspaper on December 24, 2014. 

To read Patricia Crone’s obituary, click here

By Linda Arntzenius

Until recently, Patricia Crone was a familiar sight around Princeton, riding her bicycle (without a helmet) to and from the Institute for Advanced Study where she is professor emerita of Islamic history. At times, as I passed her in my car, I had to stifle the urge to call out to her about that. I worried about that lovely blond-bobbed head and the brilliant brain within. more