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The Maid of Orleans: The Life and Mysticism of Joan of Arc
This acclaimed work on the life and legacy of Joan of Arc is considered by many historians as one of the most well researched, convincing and best written accounts of the maid of Orleans. Stolpe vividly creates the contemporary situation in France, evaluates the latest research in her life, and arrives at a highly original and yet completely believable portrait which is also a work of literature.
Stolpe sees Joan of Arc as primarily a mystic, and her supreme achievement and lasting significance not in a mission to deliver France, though important, but in her share in the passion of Christ. By shifting the emphasis from the national to the universal, he brings the saint closer to the modern reader. His scholarship is informed by a profound understanding and sympathy for the Maid that gives this essentially sober work the absorbing interest of a novel.
As one critic stated, “Stolpe succeeds in producing a very tense interest, so that it is impossible to lay it aside until the last word is reached.” It should do much to present a new evaluation of the life and significance of St. Joan of Arc, the Maid of Orleans.
Stolpe sees Joan of Arc as primarily a mystic, and her supreme achievement and lasting significance not in a mission to deliver France, though important, but in her share in the passion of Christ. By shifting the emphasis from the national to the universal, he brings the saint closer to the modern reader. His scholarship is informed by a profound understanding and sympathy for the Maid that gives this essentially sober work the absorbing interest of a novel.
As one critic stated, “Stolpe succeeds in producing a very tense interest, so that it is impossible to lay it aside until the last word is reached.” It should do much to present a new evaluation of the life and significance of St. Joan of Arc, the Maid of Orleans.
275 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 20, 2017
This is the fifth book I have read on Joan d' Arc, and while very religious in tone, it bravely attempts to balance that approach by referring to Cordier’s biography, Jeanne d'Arc, sa Personnalité son Role. Cordier portrays Joan’s voices as illusions and her visions as hallucinations. He even contends that she was more of a spectator and mascot for the French that an active soldier in the war. Stolpe tries to take a middle of the road view, being neither Romantic, (as Twain and Pernoud are prone to be) nor overly rational. He is instead pragmatic, while at the same time using the life of Christ and his trials as a parallel to Joan's eventual martyrdom.
This is a well-written book, which not only provides excerpts from the trial, but in addition, gives one great insight into who Joan was, her cleverness, her witty rejoinders during interrogation, and her determination to see her mission to its inevitable end. Stolpe never sugarcoats what happened to her, even going into detail as to how her warders beat her, attempted to rape her, and the callous reactions of those, such as the Bishop of Beauvais, who knew better, but chose purposefully to act otherwise for their own personal gain. While Pernoud’s book provides us with commentary at the end of each chapter, Stolpe does not adopt this technique, but rather brings us within the times, not as a mere observer but as one actively aware, yet, able to contemplate the end that we know must come.
This is a well-written book, which not only provides excerpts from the trial, but in addition, gives one great insight into who Joan was, her cleverness, her witty rejoinders during interrogation, and her determination to see her mission to its inevitable end. Stolpe never sugarcoats what happened to her, even going into detail as to how her warders beat her, attempted to rape her, and the callous reactions of those, such as the Bishop of Beauvais, who knew better, but chose purposefully to act otherwise for their own personal gain. While Pernoud’s book provides us with commentary at the end of each chapter, Stolpe does not adopt this technique, but rather brings us within the times, not as a mere observer but as one actively aware, yet, able to contemplate the end that we know must come.
December 14, 2017
This is the sixth book on Joan of Arc that I have now read in preparation for a chapter in a projected book, “Females Mystics and Mediums.” Every book has had its own angle into the heart and mind of Joan.
The Swedish Stolpe, a convert to Catholicism, takes a decidedly religious angle, to the point of comparing Joan’s horrendous death to that of Jesus, a martyrdom both required for the sake of others. There had been a prophecy that a virgin from Lorraine would save France from the invading English. Stolpe says Joan was “extremely well balanced,” denying that her voices and visions were the product of an unstable mind. Importantly, Stolpe does accentuate the troubled times and violence continually inflicted on Joan’s village, a persistent childhood trauma which, to my mind, could call into play dissociative voices trying to alleviate her anxiety through extraordinarily brave action. Stolpe does note that the sound of church bells brought on her voices. While this may be a sign of epilepsy in other writers’ views, for Stolpe, hearing voices in such a solid, sensible girl could only be explained through her mysticism.
While quite certain about her mysticism, Stolpe is evenhanded in other regards. He does not support many legendary claims, like Joan’s recognizing in a crowded room of courtiers the king, Charles VII, she had come to crown. Stolpe finds this improbable and regularly tries to sort out truth from “the jungle growth of legend” surrounding Joan.
Stolpe sees Joan principally as a “typical mystic,” a calling other biographers have neglected in their accounts. It seems he has entered Joan’s head when he makes statements like, “Now Joan understood.” He also refers to Joan’s “intuition,” which is not considered mysticism. I like how Stolphe compares poetic genius to religious genius, which would have been Joan’s mainstay; yet, she never seemed to be in a state of ecstasy like many mystics, as he says. There was something different about her. When bullied by the judges at her trial, without a counsel for her own defense, she gave brilliant answers, a sign that her voices had some kind of genius level ability to provide cunning, non-incriminating answers. While she was a “holy woman,” being used by the “great spirit who deigns to use her as his instrument,” she was not a “military genius.” Rather, Stolpe says, her mere presence gave the French soldiers encouragement to fight.
In the end, Joan’s death, for Stolpe, was not a tragedy, but rather willed by God as “a sacrifice for all the cowardly, the cold-hearted, and the arrogant.” It is quite clear that she had a brave, highly religious heart and the pure mental determination to overthrow the English yoke, by whatever means possible. I suspect one’s own religious or non-religious persuasion will win out when judging her successes. But, decrying the brutal, fiery end of this inspired young woman, I would think, should be universal.
The Swedish Stolpe, a convert to Catholicism, takes a decidedly religious angle, to the point of comparing Joan’s horrendous death to that of Jesus, a martyrdom both required for the sake of others. There had been a prophecy that a virgin from Lorraine would save France from the invading English. Stolpe says Joan was “extremely well balanced,” denying that her voices and visions were the product of an unstable mind. Importantly, Stolpe does accentuate the troubled times and violence continually inflicted on Joan’s village, a persistent childhood trauma which, to my mind, could call into play dissociative voices trying to alleviate her anxiety through extraordinarily brave action. Stolpe does note that the sound of church bells brought on her voices. While this may be a sign of epilepsy in other writers’ views, for Stolpe, hearing voices in such a solid, sensible girl could only be explained through her mysticism.
While quite certain about her mysticism, Stolpe is evenhanded in other regards. He does not support many legendary claims, like Joan’s recognizing in a crowded room of courtiers the king, Charles VII, she had come to crown. Stolpe finds this improbable and regularly tries to sort out truth from “the jungle growth of legend” surrounding Joan.
Stolpe sees Joan principally as a “typical mystic,” a calling other biographers have neglected in their accounts. It seems he has entered Joan’s head when he makes statements like, “Now Joan understood.” He also refers to Joan’s “intuition,” which is not considered mysticism. I like how Stolphe compares poetic genius to religious genius, which would have been Joan’s mainstay; yet, she never seemed to be in a state of ecstasy like many mystics, as he says. There was something different about her. When bullied by the judges at her trial, without a counsel for her own defense, she gave brilliant answers, a sign that her voices had some kind of genius level ability to provide cunning, non-incriminating answers. While she was a “holy woman,” being used by the “great spirit who deigns to use her as his instrument,” she was not a “military genius.” Rather, Stolpe says, her mere presence gave the French soldiers encouragement to fight.
In the end, Joan’s death, for Stolpe, was not a tragedy, but rather willed by God as “a sacrifice for all the cowardly, the cold-hearted, and the arrogant.” It is quite clear that she had a brave, highly religious heart and the pure mental determination to overthrow the English yoke, by whatever means possible. I suspect one’s own religious or non-religious persuasion will win out when judging her successes. But, decrying the brutal, fiery end of this inspired young woman, I would think, should be universal.
August 4, 2025
Very insightful narrative that helps us to know Joan intimately. My only complaint is that the narrator takes for granted the reader's familiarity with Joan's story, the history of the period, and many of the characters involved. So, it's not a book for someone who wants an historical overview.
November 18, 2018
Väldig intressant läsning, den religiösa Stolpe hugger lite åt alla håll för att komma åt sanningen som han ser det angående Jeanne d'Arc. Var inte "historieboken" jag letade efter men något annat.
January 7, 2015
The Maid of Orleans is an Ignatius Press reprint of a title that was published in the 1950s. The author, Sven Stolpe, was a Swedish writer/journalist and wrote numerous books, including this one on Joan of Arc and one on Queen Christina of Sweden. Stolpe's book on Joan of Arc begins with background information on The Hundred Years' War and the state of France during that time period. In fact, Joan of Arc isn't even mentioned until the third chapter of the book. This creates a good background for the reader who does not know much about the era in which Joan grew up and lived. Stolpe presents a very detailed account of Joan. The level of detail is astounding and it seems he took to heart the advice to always assume your audience knows nothing about the subject.
As someone with a degree in psychology, Chapter 4 stood out to me as the most interesting. In this chapter Stolpe discusses the voices which Joan heard. He explains that people will ever agree on the voices Joan heard. Believers will see these voices as God. Skeptics will see these voices as hallucinations. He then cites several examples of the voices and a psychologist's rebuttal. The other interesting section to me was the trial almost two decades after Joan's death. It ultimately showed how unfairly treated Joan was, that her trial was held in a kangaroo court, and that her death was unnecessary. Stolpe's concludes that "Joan's real greatness is her willingness to die as shameful a death as the Savior upon the Cross."
This was a very detailed account of Joan of Arc. Stolpe's goal in writing this book was to show that Joan's life was more than just trying to free France, but that she was to share in Christ's Passion. The book was very dense, and there were times I had to put down the book often because of the depth and level of detail that Stolpe took in this book. It also had parts that were hard to read, because the level of betrayal and cruelty that Joan suffered was overwhelming. If you have an interest in history and/or a devotion to Joan of Arc, this book will be of great interest to you. If on the other hand you do not, you might find yourself weighed down by information overload and be unable or uninterested in finishing the book. That's not to say the book is bad, I just believe you have to be interested in the subject or in the right frame of mind to read a book this dense with facts.
As someone with a degree in psychology, Chapter 4 stood out to me as the most interesting. In this chapter Stolpe discusses the voices which Joan heard. He explains that people will ever agree on the voices Joan heard. Believers will see these voices as God. Skeptics will see these voices as hallucinations. He then cites several examples of the voices and a psychologist's rebuttal. The other interesting section to me was the trial almost two decades after Joan's death. It ultimately showed how unfairly treated Joan was, that her trial was held in a kangaroo court, and that her death was unnecessary. Stolpe's concludes that "Joan's real greatness is her willingness to die as shameful a death as the Savior upon the Cross."
This was a very detailed account of Joan of Arc. Stolpe's goal in writing this book was to show that Joan's life was more than just trying to free France, but that she was to share in Christ's Passion. The book was very dense, and there were times I had to put down the book often because of the depth and level of detail that Stolpe took in this book. It also had parts that were hard to read, because the level of betrayal and cruelty that Joan suffered was overwhelming. If you have an interest in history and/or a devotion to Joan of Arc, this book will be of great interest to you. If on the other hand you do not, you might find yourself weighed down by information overload and be unable or uninterested in finishing the book. That's not to say the book is bad, I just believe you have to be interested in the subject or in the right frame of mind to read a book this dense with facts.
July 28, 2015
This wasn't as great as I'd expected. I love St. Joan of Arc and the books I'd read on her in the past were excellent, so I had high expectations for this one. I was disappointed. His attempts to dispel what he considered a lot of the 'myths, legends, and exaggerations' about St. Joan of Arc's life left me wondering about his faith. He IS a Catholic convert, but I was def left with the impression that (at least regarding St. Joan of Arc and the work our Lord can do in and through a person, how He can use them, the work and influence of Our Blessed Mother & the Saints in a person's life) he had a lack of faith.
September 21, 2015
An almost legendary biography on the "Maid of Orleans" from the mid 50's. Old fashioned and very detailed, the author manages to keep the interest up by a vivid and varied narrative, and despite all the information, the book is not overly long.
February 21, 2015
A beautiful biography of Jeanne that focuses on her spirituality, her mysticism, and the essential aspect of her sanctity -- her self-sacrifice in service to the will of God.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews