Larissa Taylor

La gran heroína de Francia y el gran flagelo de Inglaterra: ya sea una lunática, una bruja, un ícono religioso o un hábil soldado y líder, los contemporáneos de Juana de Arco la encontraron tan extraordinaria y fascinante como las leyendas que abundan sobre ella hoy. Pero su vida ha sido tan interminablemente proyectada y refundida que hemos perdido de vista a la notable chica en el centro de ella: una campesina adolescente que, después de afirmar haber escuchado voces, convenció al rey francés para que la guiara a un ejército descorazonado a la batalla . En el proceso ella cambió el curso de la historia europea.… (plus d'informations)

I believe this has made it to my favorite as far as biographies on Joan of Arc go. I loved that it was straight up factual without embellishment. I also loved how primary sources were used describing her. People who were actually with her at some point.

This book allows you to draw your own conclusions about the full truth behind Joan's story by giving you the facts. Was she really divinely guided, was she insane, or was she a driven young woman who used wit and intelligence to carve her place in the world? Either way she is a fascinating woman.… (plus d'informations)

A very thorough historical account of the phenomenon Joan of Arc. She was an unlettered girl from a peasant family. But it is made clear by the analysis the primary written sources, that she was an exceptional, bold, charismatic and intelligent young girl who did something outstanding and made history. On page 186 of the book Taylor cites Pope Pius II who tells about her personality and achievements: " She bore the flames with wonderful and gallant courage....Thus died [Joan], that astonishing and marvelous maid, who restored the kingdom of France when it was fallen and almost torn asunder; who inflicted so many heavy defeats upon the English; who being made general over men kept her purity unstained among companies of soldiers; of whom no breath of scandal was ever heard (...) by whose daring the gate of Paris was fired, by whose quick wit and untiring effort the French cause was saved. It is a phenomenon that deserves to be recorded, although after-ages are likely to regard it with more wonder than credulity".… (plus d'informations)