Product Description

Joan of Arc was born in 1412 and grew up during a time of invasion and civil war. At thirteen, she began to hear the voices of saints and followed their directives, believing they were sent to her by God. At seventeen, she rode into battle to rescue France from English domination in the Hundred Years War and in 1431, aged only nineteen, she was put on trial for heresy and sorcery by an ecclesiastical court of the Inquisition, and burned at the stake. Joan radiated with deep piety, self-assurance, decisiveness, and shrewd intelligence as her responses to hostile questioning preserved in the records of the rigged trial demonstrate. In this glittering portrait of the illiterate peasant girl who became the saviour of France, Joan of Arc's energy, spirit and her heroism as the first to die for a Christian-inspired idea of nationalism, are beautifully portrayed.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #621937 in Books
• Published on: 2000-07-20
• Original language: French
• Binding: Paperback
• 448 pages

About the Author
Regine Pernoud is a world renowned medievalist whose reputation has been won through her numerous biographies and histories. She founded in 1974 the Centre Jeanne d'Arc d'Orleans, which she has directed since 1985. Marie-Veronique Clin is an expert on the Jeanne d'Arc sources and has also edited the complete works of the Counts of the House of Warwick.

Customer Reviews

A masterpiece
This is the most wonderful book. It is quite hard going - and probably not to your taste if you're looking for a light read - but it is a comprehensive historical tribute to the real life of Joan of Arc. The book is comprehensive; the first part draws on the transcript(s) of the trial and eye witness accounts of her childhood, campaign and death. The second section examines the fresh testimonies gathered for her nullification; her own letters and the principle characters and historical events surrounding her. It is also borne out with maps, chronology and bibliography.
I found the facts utterly compelling and Joan herself even more inspiring when stripped of the myths.
I also found it extremely interesting to read a book written by a sceptic French historian - rather than the English version I have been brought up on - who was determined to dispel the myth but found herself in admiration of the maid. Joan and the events of her life came alive in this book and I have to admit for myself it was quite a spiritual read; but then I am a Catholic! Don't let that put you off, it certainly doesn't try to convert!
For research, it is excellent material.

Scholarly and readable. The essential Joan of Arc history.
Of the four histories I have read on Joan of Arc this is by far the most scholarly, accurate and readable account. Pernoud is a well respected medieval historian and she was always rigorous about using accurate primary sources wherever possible. The first seven chapters present her short life as seen from the surprisingly varied primary sources available. All of the myth and fake religious/spiritual nonsense that has unfortunately been linked to Joan since her death is stripped away and we get a very detailed view of a quite capable and determined country girl whose destiny played out amidst the insecurity and chaos of wartorn France. There are biographies of all of the main characters involved in her story. A full account of her trial and numerous other useful appendices, photos and maps make this the essential resource for anyone who wants to delve into the fact behind the legend. Highly recommended !!

A scholarly masterpiece
If you want to read a detailed biography of this most fascinating and inspirational of figures in European history, this is the biography to read. There have been may accounts of Joan's life but most of them are either superficial or are slanted with a particular agenda in mind.
This scholarly analysis uses the plethora of contemporary accounts from the time to create a highly readable and yet thought provoking study of one of the most intriguing figures in European history,