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A review by clotalksbooks
Joan of Arc: A History by Helen Castor
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
Very interesting account of this period of history. Fairly accessible, though I must admit to getting confused between people at times.
Although I understood the need/wishes of the author to set Joan's story in the context of the period, I felt this was a bit imbalanced. It is a long time before Joan even features, and when she does she appears infrequently. Then all too soon she is gone again while we hear about the outcomes of the lengthy war. It is all interesting, but I found myself wanting to know more about the titular figure.
I understand it is probably very difficult to find out how she would have thought etc. But I felt we were learning more about how others viewed her, when I was desperate to find out more what was going on in her own mind. I feel more could perhaps have been done to analyse her letters etc., set in the context of gender, other figures who had visions, to give more of a feeling of Joan. As it is, it felt more a study of war/conflict.
A note about this edition in particular, I really liked the images that were included.
Although I understood the need/wishes of the author to set Joan's story in the context of the period, I felt this was a bit imbalanced. It is a long time before Joan even features, and when she does she appears infrequently. Then all too soon she is gone again while we hear about the outcomes of the lengthy war. It is all interesting, but I found myself wanting to know more about the titular figure.
I understand it is probably very difficult to find out how she would have thought etc. But I felt we were learning more about how others viewed her, when I was desperate to find out more what was going on in her own mind. I feel more could perhaps have been done to analyse her letters etc., set in the context of gender, other figures who had visions, to give more of a feeling of Joan. As it is, it felt more a study of war/conflict.
A note about this edition in particular, I really liked the images that were included.