Joan of Arc: A Life"A master of the story form" (The New York Times) offers a fresh, revealing portrait of the legendary saint Celebrated novelist Mary Gordon brings Joan of Arc alive as a complex figure full of contradictions and desires, as well as spiritual devotion. A humble peasant girl, Joan transformed herself into the legendary Maid of Orléans, knight, martyr, and saint. Following the voice of God, she led an army to victory and crowned the king of France, only to be captured and burned at the stake as a heretic—all by the age of nineteen. Gordon does more than tell this gripping story—she explores Joan's mystery and the many facets of her inspiring life. |
Contents
Of Her Time and Place | 1 |
Approaching the Throne | 28 |
Triumphant in Battle the Kings Anointer | 47 |
What Kind of Warrior What Kind of Defeat? 223 | 72 |
Accused | 96 |
Virgin Body | 136 |
Food for the Feast | 148 |
Saint Joan | 166 |
Notes | 175 |
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Common terms and phrases
abjuration accused Alençon angel armor army asked battle Baudricourt believed body Brecht Burgundians burned canonization capture Catherine Cauchon cell Charles's Chinon chivalry Church claim Compiègne coronation court crown daughter dauphin death Domrémy Dreyer's duke of Alençon duke of Burgundy duke of Orléans Dunois Edward Lucie-Smith enemies English entered faith female fighting French girl give hear hero Holland Smith horse imagination important inspired Isabeau Jargeau Jean Joan of Arc Joan's Joan's voices Johan Huizinga judges King of Heaven king's knew knight lived Lucie-Smith Maid Margaret Marina Warner men's clothing Michael never Paris Péguy Perhaps pope pray prisoner prophecy ransom refused Régine Pernoud Rheims Rouen Sackville-West sacred Saint Joan seems sent sexual soldiers someone St.-Denis sword symbolic tell things tion told town trans Trémoille Trial of Joan Troyes understanding Vaucouleurs victory virginity Vita Sackville-West wanted wear woman words young