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For centuries the story of Joan of Arc has held a special fascination for writers all over the world. Each has seen her in a different way. Novelist Thomas Keneally is no exception. For him Joan--or Jehanne--is a rather ordinary young girl, a plain-spoken bewildered adolescent-albeit one who literally saved France for Charles VII. Concentrating largely on the Maid's lifting of the seige of Orleans, Keaneally's research has been impeccable and his interpretation brilliant. As victory is assured, Jehanne--who by this time is regarded by many as an unchivalrous transvestite witch--undergoes a natural transformation which at once makes her woman and inevitably seals her doom. And she knew it.
A plain-spoken, bewildered adolescent finds herself thrust into the center of the Hundred Years' War, tasked with the improbable mission of saving France for Charles VII. Jehanne navigates the brutal political and military landscape of the fifteenth century, balancing her internal conviction against the external pressures of a society that views her with increasing suspicion. As she leads the charge to lift the siege of Orleans, she faces the physical toll of combat and the logical constraints of a patriarchal military hierarchy. The narrative examines the transformation of a young woman into a symbol of national salvation, while simultaneously tracking the inevitable shift in public perception that marks her for destruction.
This work presents a grounded, human-centric interpretation of a well-documented historical figure, stripping away much of the hagiographic myth to focus on the individual. The narrative structure emphasizes the psychological burden placed upon a young woman caught between political utility and religious persecution. Readers often note the author's commitment to historical detail, which provides a stark backdrop for the protagonist's internal evolution. The prose style remains focused on the mechanics of her rise and subsequent fall, offering a clinical look at how public opinion shifts from reverence to condemnation. The text succeeds in framing Jehanne not as a saint, but as a vulnerable adolescent whose actions carry heavy, inescapable consequences.
Page Count:
384
Publication Date:
1974-01-01
Publisher:
Collins
ISBN-10:
0002210878
ISBN-13:
9780002210874
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