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laurenholland's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This was an interesting and informative story that shed light on Joan of Arc’s life. I think it was a difficult audiobook as the narrator’s voice tended to almost infantalize Joan’s voice (I know she was a teenager, but damn). I liked that it read like fiction.
katie69's review against another edition
challenging
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
nanvdand's review against another edition
4.0
I've always been a bit fascinated with Joan of Arc. Such an amazing story and the bulk of it is well documented in the several trials that Joan underwent - both before her death and posthumously. Mark Twain has used this documentation as the basis for his fictionalized version so that the activities of Joan are set from historical documents. The story is told from the viewpoint of her fictional childhood friend who was by her side until her death. Several of her childhood friends from Joan's hometown of Domremy also served in Joan's wars to liberate France from the English. Much of the fictional part of this story are the various coming-of-age activities of these male comrades who are turned into soldiers, somewhat unwillingly.
I wouldn't call this a humorous book like most of Mr. Twain's writings, but there is definitely some humor and the author's sense of humor peeks through from time to time.
If you want to learn about the fascinating, albeit short, life of Joan but enjoy a more entertaining version of history - this is an excellent choice.
I wouldn't call this a humorous book like most of Mr. Twain's writings, but there is definitely some humor and the author's sense of humor peeks through from time to time.
If you want to learn about the fascinating, albeit short, life of Joan but enjoy a more entertaining version of history - this is an excellent choice.
matthewb's review against another edition
5.0
This is really quite an extraordinary book.
Not only is it a biography of one of the most remarkable women in history, but the fact that it was written so reverently by Mark Twain, a great writer but generally critical of religion, makes it that much more astonishing.
Then again, the improbability of this book's existence is perhaps a suitable reflection of the improbability of Joan's story. If anyone had pitched a fictional story about a teenage peasant girl who persuaded her way to a meeting with the king who subsequently sent her into battle at the head of an army, albeit with no military experience, and that she led the embattled country to a series of victories that the greatest military heroes of the time had not previously been able to accomplish, and that ultimately saved the country from being conquered, you might justifiable dismiss the story as too fanciful. All the more shocking that it is a true story, and not merely the stuff of legend, but a well-evidenced fact of history, thanks to the extensive research that was done on her life for her trials, both the one that condemned her while alive and the one that exonerated her after her death.
I tried to find alternative accounts of her story that perhaps might make it seem more realistic, but the greatest point of disputation I could find was over how many men she had command, whether it was a small company or a larger armed force. Even granting the former, it hardly makes her story less remarkable. But given the acclaim she received during her life, and the accounts of her riding side-by-side with King Charles VII and La Hire, the famed military commander, and the resources expended by the English and Burgundians to capture and convict her, it seems altogether more likely that her significance risks being understated rather than overstated.
Extraordinary as her story is, it cannot faithfully be told without accounting for her faith and the voices of St Catherine, St Margaret and St Michael that directed her. Twain displays remarkable obeisance to this aspect of Joan's story, whereas it is a prime target for critics who try and explain them away as hallucinations. The depth and maturity of her faith, as displayed during her trial, belie this criticism however. And the account of how her voices directed her to retrieve a previously hidden sword from the church of St Catherine de Fierbois has not been adequately contradicted.
As I was reading the trial section of this book I cross-referenced it with the actual records of the trial available online. Twain's account is remarkably accurate, with responses delivered verbatim on many occasions.
The book is, however, a fictionalized account, and I quite enjoyed the detail of personality and circumstance that Twain invented around the known storyline while remaining faithful to the facts. There are entire subplots woven into the fabric of the story, like the battle-shy Paladin who was prone to comical exaggeration of his heroism, and who subsequently fulfilled his own courageous depiction of himself after Joan appointed him as standard-bearer. The narrator, Sieur Louis de Conte, who was ostensibly Joan's secretary and also a clerk for her trial, also displays his personality as he reminisces on an infatuation he had with one of Joan's companions in Orléans.
The trial itself was a harrowing affair. But despite the many traps laid for Joan and attempts to confuse her into submission, she showed remarkable tenacity and profound holiness throughout. Her most famous reply was to the impossible question of whether or not she was in the state of grace: "If I am not, may God put me there; and if I am, may God so keep me." Twain adds wonderful details about notes inscribed in the official trial record, suggesting the reaction in the courtroom to her replies. Bishop Pierre Cauchon was the chief prosecutor and is portrayed as a depraved villain. One wonders whether this is a biased opinion, but given his posthumous excommunication in 1457 it would appear that this is the lasting judgement of the Catholic church on his actions.
There was so much wickedness surrounding Joan of Arc in the lead up to her death, from the awful church men and the University of Paris who condemned her to die by burning at the stake on the most contrived and flimsiest pretext, to her abandonment by Charles VII, the king she helped crown and did nothing to try and ransom or rescue her.
It is interesting to consider what effect this book, published in 1896, may have had on her cause for sainthood, as she was beatified 13 years later in 1909 and canonised in 1920. It was in the wake of her canonisation that George Bernard Shaw, another eminent writer who vocally opposed organised religion, wrote his play [b:Saint Joan|12274|Saint Joan|George Bernard Shaw|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1358725811l/12274._SX50_.jpg|1115673], again portraying Joan of Arc reverently. It is clear that Joan of Arc's intriguing story has captivated the imagination of the world, both secular and religious, through the centuries and up to the present day.
She is undoubtedly a great saint with much to teach us today about following the will of God in all things, despite rejection, hardship, even martyrdom. I would never have expected to find good spiritual reading in the works of Mark Twain, but when it comes to Joan of Arc there is no end to the surprises.
Not only is it a biography of one of the most remarkable women in history, but the fact that it was written so reverently by Mark Twain, a great writer but generally critical of religion, makes it that much more astonishing.
Then again, the improbability of this book's existence is perhaps a suitable reflection of the improbability of Joan's story. If anyone had pitched a fictional story about a teenage peasant girl who persuaded her way to a meeting with the king who subsequently sent her into battle at the head of an army, albeit with no military experience, and that she led the embattled country to a series of victories that the greatest military heroes of the time had not previously been able to accomplish, and that ultimately saved the country from being conquered, you might justifiable dismiss the story as too fanciful. All the more shocking that it is a true story, and not merely the stuff of legend, but a well-evidenced fact of history, thanks to the extensive research that was done on her life for her trials, both the one that condemned her while alive and the one that exonerated her after her death.
I tried to find alternative accounts of her story that perhaps might make it seem more realistic, but the greatest point of disputation I could find was over how many men she had command, whether it was a small company or a larger armed force. Even granting the former, it hardly makes her story less remarkable. But given the acclaim she received during her life, and the accounts of her riding side-by-side with King Charles VII and La Hire, the famed military commander, and the resources expended by the English and Burgundians to capture and convict her, it seems altogether more likely that her significance risks being understated rather than overstated.
Extraordinary as her story is, it cannot faithfully be told without accounting for her faith and the voices of St Catherine, St Margaret and St Michael that directed her. Twain displays remarkable obeisance to this aspect of Joan's story, whereas it is a prime target for critics who try and explain them away as hallucinations. The depth and maturity of her faith, as displayed during her trial, belie this criticism however. And the account of how her voices directed her to retrieve a previously hidden sword from the church of St Catherine de Fierbois has not been adequately contradicted.
As I was reading the trial section of this book I cross-referenced it with the actual records of the trial available online. Twain's account is remarkably accurate, with responses delivered verbatim on many occasions.
The book is, however, a fictionalized account, and I quite enjoyed the detail of personality and circumstance that Twain invented around the known storyline while remaining faithful to the facts. There are entire subplots woven into the fabric of the story, like the battle-shy Paladin who was prone to comical exaggeration of his heroism, and who subsequently fulfilled his own courageous depiction of himself after Joan appointed him as standard-bearer. The narrator, Sieur Louis de Conte, who was ostensibly Joan's secretary and also a clerk for her trial, also displays his personality as he reminisces on an infatuation he had with one of Joan's companions in Orléans.
The trial itself was a harrowing affair. But despite the many traps laid for Joan and attempts to confuse her into submission, she showed remarkable tenacity and profound holiness throughout. Her most famous reply was to the impossible question of whether or not she was in the state of grace: "If I am not, may God put me there; and if I am, may God so keep me." Twain adds wonderful details about notes inscribed in the official trial record, suggesting the reaction in the courtroom to her replies. Bishop Pierre Cauchon was the chief prosecutor and is portrayed as a depraved villain. One wonders whether this is a biased opinion, but given his posthumous excommunication in 1457 it would appear that this is the lasting judgement of the Catholic church on his actions.
There was so much wickedness surrounding Joan of Arc in the lead up to her death, from the awful church men and the University of Paris who condemned her to die by burning at the stake on the most contrived and flimsiest pretext, to her abandonment by Charles VII, the king she helped crown and did nothing to try and ransom or rescue her.
It is interesting to consider what effect this book, published in 1896, may have had on her cause for sainthood, as she was beatified 13 years later in 1909 and canonised in 1920. It was in the wake of her canonisation that George Bernard Shaw, another eminent writer who vocally opposed organised religion, wrote his play [b:Saint Joan|12274|Saint Joan|George Bernard Shaw|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1358725811l/12274._SX50_.jpg|1115673], again portraying Joan of Arc reverently. It is clear that Joan of Arc's intriguing story has captivated the imagination of the world, both secular and religious, through the centuries and up to the present day.
She is undoubtedly a great saint with much to teach us today about following the will of God in all things, despite rejection, hardship, even martyrdom. I would never have expected to find good spiritual reading in the works of Mark Twain, but when it comes to Joan of Arc there is no end to the surprises.
msjoanna's review against another edition
5.0
I don't know how I'd never heard of this book. It's wonderful! Mark Twain is such a clever storyteller. The book is told through the narration of a friend of Joan's gives the story of her short life. In this telling, Joan is near-perfect--compassionate, strong, guided by God, pious. She follows the "voices" that tell her that she's been chosen to fight for France against the English and off she goes to lead an army. In this novel, she comes to life as a human character, with a life and a history and real emotions and love for her parents and a crazy path. But Twain sells it. She seems believable even as she does the unbelievable things that she did.
The narrator for the audio version (Mark Anthony) that I listened to did a good job getting the characters to seem individualized and pacing the story. His pronunciations of French seemed off to me, but it's been a long time since I was able to speak even a little French, so maybe it's my faulty memory of French words rather than his accent.
The narrator for the audio version (Mark Anthony) that I listened to did a good job getting the characters to seem individualized and pacing the story. His pronunciations of French seemed off to me, but it's been a long time since I was able to speak even a little French, so maybe it's my faulty memory of French words rather than his accent.
tiedyedude's review against another edition
5.0
I was a little worried when I saw this was a 16-hour recording, and it certainly took some time to finish, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The reader was engaging, the story is legendary, and, while it is a historical novel, plenty of Twain's wit still shines through.
unionmack's review against another edition
3.0
I really wanted to like this one more than I did. When Twain's describing Joan's childhood and her eventual decline and fall, it's heartfelt, poignant, clever, and even occasionally transcendent. But the bulk of the book is dedicated to her military exploits and I just found it unfortunately tedious. I kept pining to hear more about what made her a great person, anointed by some strange force, not just a great military commander. It's not Huckleberry Finn, but it's far from being a complete waste of time. Twain considered it his best book, so the problem here is very likely with this reader rather than with the book itself.
tiedyedude's review against another edition
5.0
I was a little worried when I saw this was a 16-hour recording, and it certainly took some time to finish, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The reader was engaging, the story is legendary, and, while it is a historical novel, plenty of Twain's wit still shines through.
honeyedorange's review against another edition
5.0
Reading this was challenging, edifying, and enjoyable. Joan of Arc, the subject of Sieur Louis de Conte's recollections, was opposed on so many fronts. For being a nationalist unbowed by the skulduggery of her fellow countrymen or the domination of the British invaders, maintaining all throughout her short life faith in God and her divine appointment, she was put on trial and martyred at the stake. With his unerring authorial discretion, Mark Twain skillfully penned his fascination bordering on obsession with Joan of Arc--and instilled in me a deep respect and admiration for her, for his reinvention of her, for all the qualities this heaven-sent girl must have possessed to the nth degree. She is the incarnation of Patriotism, Mark Twain says. From his depiction, it is inarguable. I am intrigued and likely to pick up other accounts of her. Perhaps, as Mark Twain recommends, reading The Official Record of the Trial and Rehabilitation of Joan of Arc is in order. I suspect that reading this historic document would be redundant after reading this novel since Mark Twain apparently tried to be as true to the actual Joan as was fictionally feasible. Nevertheless, her legendary innate wisdom and courage would be as remarkable to understand from a first-hand account as would be the chicanery of Bishop Cauchon and his ilk outrageous.
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