Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc - Mark Twain

nNow listen to what an old man tells you. My best book is my Recollections of Joan of Arc....it furnished me seven times the pleasure afforded me by any of the others; twelve years of preparation, and two years of writing. The others needed no preparation and got none. -Mark Twainn n nn nJudged by the standards of one century, the noblest characters of an earlier one lose much of their luster. Judged by the standards of today, there are not many from five or six centuries ago whose character stands the test of time. But the character of Joan of Arc is unique. It can be measured against all time without misgiving. It is flawless. It is ideally perfect. It occupies the loftiest place possible to human attainment.n n nn nJoan of Arc, a peasant girl in 15th century France, rose up to hold supreme command of the military forces of France at the age of seventeen. Inspired by visions and voices of angels, Joan led French troops to lift the siege of Orléans ensuring Charles VII was crowned King of France in 1429.n n nn nTwain traveled to France's National Archives to personally study the transcripts of Joan's trial. Immerse yourself in her story, told by one of America's finest writers. n n nn nIllustrated with original drawings by F.V. du Mond, and from reproductions of old paintings and statues.n