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Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc - Vol I
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About the author
Mark Twain
8,902 books18.7k followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens, known by the pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist and essayist. He was praised as the "greatest humorist the United States has produced," with William Faulkner calling him "the father of American literature." His novels include The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and its sequel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884), with the latter often called the "Great American Novel." Twain also wrote A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1889) and Pudd'nhead Wilson (1894), and co-wrote The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today (1873) with Charles Dudley Warner.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens, known by the pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist and essayist. He was praised as the "greatest humorist the United States has produced," with William Faulkner calling him "the father of American literature." His novels include The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and its sequel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884), with the latter often called the "Great American Novel." Twain also wrote A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1889) and Pudd'nhead Wilson (1894), and co-wrote The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today (1873) with Charles Dudley Warner.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 28, 2017
Rousing and Reverent
Not surprisingly, Twain's telling of the story of Joan of Arc is a rousing adventure. Perhaps surprisingly, Twain also treats his subject reverently. A wonderful read.
Not surprisingly, Twain's telling of the story of Joan of Arc is a rousing adventure. Perhaps surprisingly, Twain also treats his subject reverently. A wonderful read.
June 21, 2023
This was apparently Mark Twain’s favorite of his books. It’s not bad, but I think you have buy into Twain’s level of adoration of Joan in order to really enjoy the book. It’s a weird novel. The great satirist, usually en garde with a rapier’s wit, is totally defenseless in his earnest telling of the story.
It suffers at the beginning because it’s all about Joan, who is constant and immovable as a character. She never doubts, never questions, never shows a hint of cowardice. This makes for a dull start. But as the book progresses, Twain adds characters to her orbit that change and mature because of their association with her. Ironically, as the book focuses more on the side characters, we can see Joan more clearly because of the effect she has on her friends.
It suffers at the beginning because it’s all about Joan, who is constant and immovable as a character. She never doubts, never questions, never shows a hint of cowardice. This makes for a dull start. But as the book progresses, Twain adds characters to her orbit that change and mature because of their association with her. Ironically, as the book focuses more on the side characters, we can see Joan more clearly because of the effect she has on her friends.
Want to read
May 26, 20135 stars!!! I read the volume for a school project, and ended up loving it. Told from the perspective of Joan's secretary, the story of her heroic victories and heart-wrenching martyrdom is brought to life. Great read, I'd recommend it to anyone.
November 12, 2022
I read somewhere that Sam Clemens considered this novel his best work. I wouldn't say this novel was the best I've read by Sam Clemens but it did have me thinking.
The novel is closely based on Joan of Arc's actual life as documented in historical records. Clements invents a character Louis De Conte who documents his recollections of Joan of Arc from childhood. The novel was separated into three books and is a fairly long read. It was monotonous in book III "Trial and Martyrdom" perhaps because of the continual interrogations of Joan of Arc.
Joan has visions, or visitations from archangel Michael, Saint Margaret and Saint Catherine. These visions tell her what to do concerning liberating the French and crowning Charles VII king of France. Joan was 13 years of age when she is first visited and she says she was frightened by her first visitation. At the age of 17, she leads the French to liberate Orleans.
If you read what Joan of Arc says during her trials and consider her age, it doesn't seem possible she could have had both the wisdom and intelligence to say the things she said. Joan was never educated. She is never described as incredibly intelligent but what she says is very cunning. So given this, was she visited? She certainly could not have been working on her own. No one who is uneducated and untrained is going to have the wisdom to direct troops to storm the English and tackle things as she did. I personally don't believe God would direct the French people to declare their independence. What does God care about who's governing the people? The only explanations I can come up with is that the whole story is a fantasy and never happened, or Joan of Arc was just a figure head and she was directed by someone who is not documented in the history books or Joan of Arc was in communication with superior beings that only she could hear.
I like this last theory. Joan was too wise during her trials for an average girl of 18 years of age. If anything, Joan should have been intimidated by those out of her social class and have been completely incomprehensible to the educated classes but history records things differently.
The novel is closely based on Joan of Arc's actual life as documented in historical records. Clements invents a character Louis De Conte who documents his recollections of Joan of Arc from childhood. The novel was separated into three books and is a fairly long read. It was monotonous in book III "Trial and Martyrdom" perhaps because of the continual interrogations of Joan of Arc.
Joan has visions, or visitations from archangel Michael, Saint Margaret and Saint Catherine. These visions tell her what to do concerning liberating the French and crowning Charles VII king of France. Joan was 13 years of age when she is first visited and she says she was frightened by her first visitation. At the age of 17, she leads the French to liberate Orleans.
If you read what Joan of Arc says during her trials and consider her age, it doesn't seem possible she could have had both the wisdom and intelligence to say the things she said. Joan was never educated. She is never described as incredibly intelligent but what she says is very cunning. So given this, was she visited? She certainly could not have been working on her own. No one who is uneducated and untrained is going to have the wisdom to direct troops to storm the English and tackle things as she did. I personally don't believe God would direct the French people to declare their independence. What does God care about who's governing the people? The only explanations I can come up with is that the whole story is a fantasy and never happened, or Joan of Arc was just a figure head and she was directed by someone who is not documented in the history books or Joan of Arc was in communication with superior beings that only she could hear.
I like this last theory. Joan was too wise during her trials for an average girl of 18 years of age. If anything, Joan should have been intimidated by those out of her social class and have been completely incomprehensible to the educated classes but history records things differently.
October 7, 2020
For me this is Twain’s greatest work. I was so involved in the story I couldn’t put the book down.
Joan of Orleans is one of the most interesting characters of French history.Not to much is known about here upbringing and early life. What we do know is that she was able to to something no grown man of here time was able to.
She is very fascinating and has a mysterious aura.
Came the voices she heard from god or an illness?
We may never know,but we can take here has great example of what we are able to archive even in the most of unlikely circumstances.
This book tells the story of her who went from poor French peasant to general of the French army in a time that had a completely different picture of woman and there place in society.
The part I liked the most was the chapters about here trial and execution.
It was heartbreaking and hard to swallow ,but contained the sad truth that often in history we killed our greatest teachers because we were not ready for their truth. Maybe today we don’t burn people on the stack yet we silence them in other ways due to them making us feel uncomfortable in our worldview.
However in the case of Jean this wasn’t very successful her memory lives on till today.
She was revived from her status as heretic and is now a saint and national symbol of France.
Interesting how fate takes its turns.
If you love Twain,Joan or medieval themed books please read this one.
Joan of Orleans is one of the most interesting characters of French history.Not to much is known about here upbringing and early life. What we do know is that she was able to to something no grown man of here time was able to.
She is very fascinating and has a mysterious aura.
Came the voices she heard from god or an illness?
We may never know,but we can take here has great example of what we are able to archive even in the most of unlikely circumstances.
This book tells the story of her who went from poor French peasant to general of the French army in a time that had a completely different picture of woman and there place in society.
The part I liked the most was the chapters about here trial and execution.
It was heartbreaking and hard to swallow ,but contained the sad truth that often in history we killed our greatest teachers because we were not ready for their truth. Maybe today we don’t burn people on the stack yet we silence them in other ways due to them making us feel uncomfortable in our worldview.
However in the case of Jean this wasn’t very successful her memory lives on till today.
She was revived from her status as heretic and is now a saint and national symbol of France.
Interesting how fate takes its turns.
If you love Twain,Joan or medieval themed books please read this one.
August 1, 2012
This is one of those great books that will change your life. Twain considered this his best work. I believe he worked on it for over ten years. The characters come to life in Twain's capable hands. Yes there is humor, excitement, adventure, but it is no fluff piece. It is a serious work of history, albeit historical fiction. You know the basic story, but you don't know what went on around Joan to get her to to become someone so special in history. Did she save France from absorption into Great Britain, possibly. Did she hear God's word, she is certain she did, and so are those who followed her. A teenage girl rose to lead France to defend herself - that is history. That she was discarded to be burned at the stake, that was cowardice. Read this book!
Note (I refer to all volumes as one book).
Note (I refer to all volumes as one book).
February 4, 2013
Mark Twain was a Godsend, no doubt. His humor and his books lift us all but this particular book was beyond even his normal writing skills. Knowing that he researched the book for so many years and then was able to put it together as a story of history which was written so that it flowed like a great adventure; which of course it was an incredible adventure. He was able to tell this incredible adventure in a way that brought Joan to life as a real person, not as many historical documents are written with just the historical facts through at the reader. This book is the book that I continually give, buy and then give away again. It is an incredible read.
Currently reading
July 28, 2023
"The Rebel was one of Camus’s entrances into the ongoing conversation of his historical moment and represents his attempt to “face the reality of the present” by recognizing the atrocities committed during World War II and attempting to provide a vision for the future of mainland Europe. With the publication of The Rebel, Camus’s criticism of Soviet communism brought him into direct conflict with his friend of over ten years, Jean Paul Sartre."
In: Albert Camus's Philosophy of Communication, Making Sense in an Age of Absurdity
May 19, 2024
I was encouraged to ‘listen’ to this book by my son. He said it was really good but to listen instead of read. And I did. This was published in 1896 by MARK TWAIN!! Who knew he wrote a book about this? I am not sure the book would get 5’ stars if I read it. The audio book’s reader is wonderful. He does voices and you feel you are in battle with Joan against the English. I knew nothing about her, except for the fact she burns at the stake, and this book teaches you a lot. How any one could be against her is beyond me. But of course the men who she beat in battle were out to get her.
May 5, 2013
"Whatever thing men call great, look for it in Joan of Arc, and there you will find it."
Joan of Arc stories can't be beat. Why is this book not so well known? Twain said it is his favorite of the books he wrote.
Joan of Arc stories can't be beat. Why is this book not so well known? Twain said it is his favorite of the books he wrote.
March 16, 2023
Entertaining!
Twain begins with Joan's youth, attributing several acts of 'wisdom beyond her years' before sending the Maid on battles to save her beloved France. Historically very close to her trial and condemnation.
Twain begins with Joan's youth, attributing several acts of 'wisdom beyond her years' before sending the Maid on battles to save her beloved France. Historically very close to her trial and condemnation.
July 21, 2015
Wonderful prose by the one of the most gifted author's of all time IMHO.
November 20, 2015
A great read
I truly enjoyed this story told in a fashion that a close friend would write. It is inspiring, but incomplete. I wanted more.
I truly enjoyed this story told in a fashion that a close friend would write. It is inspiring, but incomplete. I wanted more.
April 12, 2016
Perfect
Wonderful first person account of her life as told by her Scribe. Great way to weave history and myth. Fantastic.
Wonderful first person account of her life as told by her Scribe. Great way to weave history and myth. Fantastic.
August 27, 2017
Review to be attached to Volume 2.
August 1, 2020
Very long book and worth every minute!
October 2, 2022
I’m listening to this book on the Craftlit podcast, which is using a Librivox recording read by john Greenman.
December 3, 2025
endearing, but overly sentimental
September 4, 2023
Mark Twain said this was his favorite book. And I can see why. Told from the perspective of Joan of Arc's personal secretary who was also a childhood friend, Twain gives an account of Joan from childhood to Catholic martyr. As a Catholic, I was impressed with Twain's knowledge of Catholic practices and sacramentals. He depicts a very devout young peasant girl who has visions of angels - St. Michael - and saints. These visions guides her to become the youngest person ever to guide a country's military.
Having no formal military or warfare training, she successfully amasses a French army that repulses the occupying English army and crowns the Dauphin, King of France. Obviously, this can only be performed by divine intervention, which she states at her trial. It's a tale of daring do and sacrifice which culminates in her burning at the stake in Rouen.
The "recollections" are very entertaining and heartfelt. One gets an intimate perspective o Joan and her ordeals. It's a great heroic tale. A must read for any serious Twain afficionado.
Having no formal military or warfare training, she successfully amasses a French army that repulses the occupying English army and crowns the Dauphin, King of France. Obviously, this can only be performed by divine intervention, which she states at her trial. It's a tale of daring do and sacrifice which culminates in her burning at the stake in Rouen.
The "recollections" are very entertaining and heartfelt. One gets an intimate perspective o Joan and her ordeals. It's a great heroic tale. A must read for any serious Twain afficionado.
December 1, 2017
So far I have very much enjoyed Joan of Arc. The story is pretty amazing and Joan is a person who we can all learn from. I didn't give it 5 stars because I felt that the "storyteller" (her secretary in the story) is a little slow moving through the story and gets hung up on complimenting her over and over to the point of exhaustion (mine). But all in all, I've enjoyed learning more about Joan's endeavors, makes me want to know where line between fiction and non-fiction/history is drawn.
January 23, 2018
Epic👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻💥💣💫📿
There in the midst of the fighting... was a girl?
Oh, and she was kicking butt. Wow!!! Its the Maid of Orleans! Whohoo!!! JOAN OF ARC!!!!!
👍🏻👌🏻💥💣💫📿📿Its all about God
There in the midst of the fighting... was a girl?
Oh, and she was kicking butt. Wow!!! Its the Maid of Orleans! Whohoo!!! JOAN OF ARC!!!!!
👍🏻👌🏻💥💣💫📿📿Its all about God
November 10, 2019
3.5 stars
July 23, 2022
It was relatively good. The language is smooth and deft but the plot is not that engaging nor persuasive to me. May take me some time to look into the 2nd volume.
February 21, 2025
Like Twain, I too share a passion for Joan of Arc. A wonderful tribute. #prompt30
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews