Joan of Arc: By Herself and Her Witnesses

Book is well researched, and if she believes something is amiss she will tear it apart. Very scientific outlook. Very thoroughly composed, thoughtful, and honest. Jeanne D'arc was a unique and necessary personality that saved France. If you want another book on her, let me recommend the Play by Friedrich Schiller, the Maid of Orleans. He creates his play, and she comes forth as genuine and sublime, though he deliberately changes things, artistically the best play on Joan.

Well over more than 90% of what I believe of Joan of Arc is from this book. This book does not read like most people would think a biography would read. It reads more like a legal document bordering on scripture. minimizing commentary and opinion. I therefore benefited from reading it through more than once. The author, Mme. Pernoud was professionally an historian. She references her sources mostly from the well-recorded trials: Joan's trial of condemnation that sentenced her to death, and her posthumous trial were she was found to not be a heretic, which lasted several years.Many historians consider the story of Joan as the most well-recorded event in human history. This is easier to believe when one realizes that members of the court at that time had to be of proven character and able to resist the pressures from wealthy noblemen and clergy, some of whom had the power to execute people at will, to change the court record. They also had to speak, read and write fluently in their native tongue and Latin, at a time when more than 97% of the population was illiterate, including St. Joan. The court record would be translated into Latin and a copy sent to the Vatican in Rome; the original would be destroyed.Mme. Pernoud wrote the book in french. The award-winning english translation was written by Edward Hyams.Although I am not an expert on military matters, I am interested in military activities. I am in my late 60's. I have no doubt that St. Joan is by far the greatest military commander of all time, which is easy to prove.

This is a most wonderful book. I am an actress; I will be playing Joan (Shaw's version of the play) in June in NYC. I have read parts of many Joan books - this book is moving, extremely interesting, and extremely inspiring. I think the two best books on Joan are "Joan; In Her Own Words" and this one. I have never taken the time to write a review of a book on Amazon. Régine Pernoud's book is a great gift to anyone who wants to know what Joan was like - without an author's bias.

I purchased this book after I felt that my college professor was being very bias with her lecture on Joan of Arc (and altogether about the Catholic Church)without giving us any primary texts to back her statements. I wanted to read a book that was not written on opinion but rather on solid documents and facts. I assumed this book would provide me with good first hand accounts but also assumed that It would be a dull and dry read, often the price for such books. I was right about the first part, wrong about the second. While its bulk is quotations given from Joan's first trial and then her rehabilitation trial, it is all woven in so well that you feel a little like you are reading a bunch of short stories which all intertwine in the common story of Joan of Arc (and the specific event the chapter is on). I find myself not forcing to cram in primary sources from the 15th century, but rather because of the way it is written I remember names and chronological events without having to look back to remind myself. I would definitely recommend this book and the author, and I hope to find other history books that are written in such a manner.

This is the definitive biography of Jeanne d'Arc aka Joan of Arc, the teenage girl who led the French and Scot allied Men At Arms to break the English siege of Orleans and clear the way for Charles VII to be crowned King of France at Rheims on July 17, 1429. Lots of reproductions of manuscripts, statues, paintings and art from the time. A wonderful book about the very devout and pure Jeanne d'Arc, the routing of the English interlopers from France and her eventual tragic demise at the hands of the barbaric English neanderthals.

I have read other books about Joan of Arc. (I even had the chance to visit Rouen.) This book is in-depth and complex, but don't be dissuaded because this whole series of events surrounding Joan was complex. A story like hers needs this depth to uncover the plot twists and turns; details you need to delve into. Forget what you think you know and start again with this book.

This should not be read looking for a story, but from someone searching for the most historical facts available concerning her. The recorded historical documents put forth in a sequential order by the author helps to establish a sequence of events in her life. Just do not approach expecting an easy read. I was not looking for an easy read. The value for me, and what I was concerned with most is, HER words as recorded in documents. This will give you that, in the context of the proper application of historical document scrutiny throughout. it is for those seeking a scholastic read, searching for truth, and I thank the author for providing such.

I knew little of Joan of Arc until I visited Rouen and saw the sites important to the end phase of her life. That experience sparked an interest to learn as much as possible about this amazing young woman. I've read three books and own three movies about Joan. The movies are all bad for a variety of reasons. This book: "Joan of Arc by herself and her witnesses" is the definitive biography of Joan. It's all here and it's true. If you buy only one book about Joan of Arc this is the one to buy.

Very good.