TITLE: Joan: the mysterious life of the Heretic who became a Saint
AUTHOR: Donald Spoto
PUBLISHER: HarperSanFrancisco
DATE: 2007

I've been fascinated by Joan of Arc for years. I've done research, read articles, but never read a comprehensive biography of Joan. Last fall I was teaching Fairy Tales and in a discussion about Mulan I asked them what they knew about women in combat, serving in the army, prior to the 1980s. They knew nothing about Joan of Arc. Eighteen to nineteen year olds who didn't know about Joan of Arc. It inspired me to find a biography on Joan.

Her life is fascinating, and the thing that Spoto brings to life is her visions, what she calls her voices. She was a simple girl, born to a simple family in the midst of the 100 years war. Her voices encouraged her to go directly to the disputed King of France, Charles VII. She was brave, but certainly experienced fear. The author gives enough information about the 100 years war and the politics leading up to Joan's entrance to make everything clear, but his focus remains on Joan. Spoto also doesn't focus too much on Joan's reputation after her death, but does give an overview of when she was canonized and when she became a hero outside of France.

The account of Joan's trial was fascinating and Spoto gives interesting information about the law at the time and how it was broken to ensure that Joan was found guilty by her accusers. Perhaps the most interesting aspect was the way Charles VII abandoned her as soon as he was crowned king.

The book is very readable. If you have any interest in Joan of Arc or French history, this book will fill that interest.