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Blood Red, Sister Rose
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.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
18 people are currently reading
333 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Keneally
115 books1,263 followersThomas Michael Keneally, AO (born 7 October 1935) is an Australian novelist, playwright and author of non-fiction. He is best known for writing Schindler's Ark, the Booker Prize-winning novel of 1982, which was inspired by the efforts of Poldek Pfefferberg, a Holocaust survivor. The book would later be adapted to Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List (1993), which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Often published under the name Tom Keneally in Australia.
Life and Career:
Born in Sydney, Keneally was educated at St Patrick's College, Strathfield, where a writing prize was named after him. He entered St Patrick's Seminary, Manly to train as a Catholic priest but left before his ordination. He worked as a Sydney schoolteacher before his success as a novelist, and he was a lecturer at the University of New England (1968–70). He has also written screenplays, memoirs and non-fiction books.
Keneally was known as "Mick" until 1964 but began using the name Thomas when he started publishing, after advice from his publisher to use what was really his first name. He is most famous for his Schindler's Ark (1982) (later republished as Schindler's List), which won the Booker Prize and is the basis of the film Schindler's List (1993). Many of his novels are reworkings of historical material, although modern in their psychology and style.
Keneally has also acted in a handful of films. He had a small role in The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (based on his novel) and played Father Marshall in the Fred Schepisi movie, The Devil's Playground (1976) (not to be confused with a similarly-titled documentary by Lucy Walker about the Amish rite of passage called rumspringa).
In 1983, he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). He is an Australian Living Treasure.
He is a strong advocate of the Australian republic, meaning the severing of all ties with the British monarchy, and published a book on the subject in Our Republic (1993). Several of his Republican essays appear on the web site of the Australian Republican Movement.
Keneally is a keen supporter of rugby league football, in particular the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles club of the NRL. He made an appearance in the rugby league drama film The Final Winter (2007).
In March 2009, the Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, gave an autographed copy of Keneally's Lincoln biography to President Barack Obama as a state gift.
Most recently Thomas Keneally featured as a writer in the critically acclaimed Australian drama, Our Sunburnt Country.
Thomas Keneally's nephew Ben is married to the former NSW Premier, Kristina Keneally.
Often published under the name Tom Keneally in Australia.
Life and Career:
Born in Sydney, Keneally was educated at St Patrick's College, Strathfield, where a writing prize was named after him. He entered St Patrick's Seminary, Manly to train as a Catholic priest but left before his ordination. He worked as a Sydney schoolteacher before his success as a novelist, and he was a lecturer at the University of New England (1968–70). He has also written screenplays, memoirs and non-fiction books.
Keneally was known as "Mick" until 1964 but began using the name Thomas when he started publishing, after advice from his publisher to use what was really his first name. He is most famous for his Schindler's Ark (1982) (later republished as Schindler's List), which won the Booker Prize and is the basis of the film Schindler's List (1993). Many of his novels are reworkings of historical material, although modern in their psychology and style.
Keneally has also acted in a handful of films. He had a small role in The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (based on his novel) and played Father Marshall in the Fred Schepisi movie, The Devil's Playground (1976) (not to be confused with a similarly-titled documentary by Lucy Walker about the Amish rite of passage called rumspringa).
In 1983, he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). He is an Australian Living Treasure.
He is a strong advocate of the Australian republic, meaning the severing of all ties with the British monarchy, and published a book on the subject in Our Republic (1993). Several of his Republican essays appear on the web site of the Australian Republican Movement.
Keneally is a keen supporter of rugby league football, in particular the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles club of the NRL. He made an appearance in the rugby league drama film The Final Winter (2007).
In March 2009, the Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, gave an autographed copy of Keneally's Lincoln biography to President Barack Obama as a state gift.
Most recently Thomas Keneally featured as a writer in the critically acclaimed Australian drama, Our Sunburnt Country.
Thomas Keneally's nephew Ben is married to the former NSW Premier, Kristina Keneally.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 28, 2017
Most of us know something of the story of Joan of Arc, even if it is only the way in which she died and she has been a figure of interest for me for years –hence buying this book about twenty years ago. I’d also never read anything by Thomas Keneally and ‘Schindlers list’ is the only one of his books I am familiar with through the movie.
The Aussie author though, takes the story of Joan and puts his own spin on it making Joan an absolutely compelling character. Starting out as a simple peasant girl who is nevertheless set apart, the visions she experiences put her on a path to her King. The way in which she acts and reacts to the primarily male cast is passionate, brutally honest, down to earth, spiritually zealous and often comic.
It is the tongue in cheek dark comedy of the book that sets this apart from other historical novels, with the ridiculousness of war and the inequality between knights and peasants strong targets. It is almost reminiscent of Shakespeare in its comic touches and Keneally has the book set up like a play with all dialogue preceded by the name of the person speaking. This actually makes it really easy to read and understand who is who as there is a long list of characters with similar sounding names and it makes the often snappy dialogue more effective.
Sometimes the numerous war scenes get a little boring, ironically because much of war is portrayed as a series of set piece movements and rules orchestrated by the knights and Generals while the hoi polloi look on. King Charles for whom Jehanne (Joan) is ready to become a blood sacrifice for is effectively portrayed as a weak, odd looking, anxiety ridden man-boy with his mother-in-law Yolande being the real power. The way she and Jehanne manipulate the men around them is admirable and heartwarming in a world where their word usually held little sway even if the hold their religion has on them, and its absolute importance, is alien to many of us today.
I appreciated the fact that Kenneally didn’t focus on Jehanne’s death and only mentions it in a short letter at the end; it was the right move. Although tempted to Google much of what he writes about while reading the novel, I didn’t want to ruin it and waited until the end to research. The series of events matches the record as do many of the characters but Kenneally makes them totally his own, making this feel an utterly human story of a remarkable girl and a unique and enjoyable read
The Aussie author though, takes the story of Joan and puts his own spin on it making Joan an absolutely compelling character. Starting out as a simple peasant girl who is nevertheless set apart, the visions she experiences put her on a path to her King. The way in which she acts and reacts to the primarily male cast is passionate, brutally honest, down to earth, spiritually zealous and often comic.
It is the tongue in cheek dark comedy of the book that sets this apart from other historical novels, with the ridiculousness of war and the inequality between knights and peasants strong targets. It is almost reminiscent of Shakespeare in its comic touches and Keneally has the book set up like a play with all dialogue preceded by the name of the person speaking. This actually makes it really easy to read and understand who is who as there is a long list of characters with similar sounding names and it makes the often snappy dialogue more effective.
Sometimes the numerous war scenes get a little boring, ironically because much of war is portrayed as a series of set piece movements and rules orchestrated by the knights and Generals while the hoi polloi look on. King Charles for whom Jehanne (Joan) is ready to become a blood sacrifice for is effectively portrayed as a weak, odd looking, anxiety ridden man-boy with his mother-in-law Yolande being the real power. The way she and Jehanne manipulate the men around them is admirable and heartwarming in a world where their word usually held little sway even if the hold their religion has on them, and its absolute importance, is alien to many of us today.
I appreciated the fact that Kenneally didn’t focus on Jehanne’s death and only mentions it in a short letter at the end; it was the right move. Although tempted to Google much of what he writes about while reading the novel, I didn’t want to ruin it and waited until the end to research. The series of events matches the record as do many of the characters but Kenneally makes them totally his own, making this feel an utterly human story of a remarkable girl and a unique and enjoyable read
March 27, 2016
Loved this! Joan of Arc from the perspective of Giles de Rais (aka: Bluebeard). Fascinating story of good and evil and one man's obsession.
August 16, 2012
Not the fictionalized treatment of Joan of Arc's life that I was looking for. Focused on Joan as a soldier up to Charles's annointment at Rheims. Close to half of the book was endless, repetitive description of the battles between English (known here as the Goddams - hehe) and French in the lead-up to and liberation of Orleans; most of it focused on Joan's comrades in arms and her various relationships with them. By about p. 300 it became clear that there would be nothing of her capture or remarkable trial; nor was there much that probed the source of her conviction that she was the sister to Jesus Christ and the pre-ordained human sacrifice necessary to put Charles on the throne.
Might work for people most interested in the style of warfare used by the English-French at the time - but she didn't even really have to be in the story for that. Definitely the least interesting aspect of her life, death and legacy.
Disappointing.
Might work for people most interested in the style of warfare used by the English-French at the time - but she didn't even really have to be in the story for that. Definitely the least interesting aspect of her life, death and legacy.
Disappointing.
October 20, 2010
The famous tale of Jeanne D'Arc. However, I missed her judgement and her consequent execution.
August 21, 2023
Who knew so many bands had recorded song about the Maid of Orleans? As listening pairings I would first gravitate to OMD, but you can also take your pick from Arcade Fire, Little Mix, Madonna and more tangentially but irreverently, The Smiths' 'Bigmouth Strikes Again.
I paused on rating 'Blood Red, Sister Rose' to fact-check. Despite having studied History, I know next to nothing about the 15thC. While it should never have been in doubt that the future author of 'Schindler's Ark' (1982) would have put his research time in, it's still impressive how much contextual and factual stitchwork Keneally embroiders into the tapestry of Joan's life. As in 'Confederates' (1979), the battle strategies and personalities (notably here, 'The Bastard'), were recounted with faithful historical detail. My cross-reference was admittedly cursory via the 'You're Dead to Me' podcast, but it was enough to convince me that Keneally had also built a solidly recognisable bedrock of religious dogmas and superstitions; diet and dress; and etiquette.
There is a dense thicket of names rendered comprehensible through strong characterisation, allowing fiction a role here with artistic licence. There are maps of siege positions and dated (apocryphal) letters that anchor this fiction into historical places and chronologies. Having once dismissed historical fiction, aided by Mantel and Keneally, I now find myself a convert almost as zealous as Joan herself.
Anyone thinking of skipping this because of the expectation of gruesome endings, fear not - the focus is very much on the living and active Joan of Arc. This story of a bold, decisive female lead character feels like it was ahead of its times for 1974.
I paused on rating 'Blood Red, Sister Rose' to fact-check. Despite having studied History, I know next to nothing about the 15thC. While it should never have been in doubt that the future author of 'Schindler's Ark' (1982) would have put his research time in, it's still impressive how much contextual and factual stitchwork Keneally embroiders into the tapestry of Joan's life. As in 'Confederates' (1979), the battle strategies and personalities (notably here, 'The Bastard'), were recounted with faithful historical detail. My cross-reference was admittedly cursory via the 'You're Dead to Me' podcast, but it was enough to convince me that Keneally had also built a solidly recognisable bedrock of religious dogmas and superstitions; diet and dress; and etiquette.
There is a dense thicket of names rendered comprehensible through strong characterisation, allowing fiction a role here with artistic licence. There are maps of siege positions and dated (apocryphal) letters that anchor this fiction into historical places and chronologies. Having once dismissed historical fiction, aided by Mantel and Keneally, I now find myself a convert almost as zealous as Joan herself.
Anyone thinking of skipping this because of the expectation of gruesome endings, fear not - the focus is very much on the living and active Joan of Arc. This story of a bold, decisive female lead character feels like it was ahead of its times for 1974.
November 3, 2012
Beautiful, vivid, strange. How did he do it? One of the best books I have read in a good long while.
April 26, 2015
Heartbreaking.
February 13, 2018
Having read a book about the Apache wars where women and children on both sides suffered all kinds
of atrocities, followed by a book about a son murdering his mother and a father murdering his daughter, I thought it would be safe to read a book with a strong female lead dishing it out to all who cross her. Unfortunately, despite a heap of victories it all ends in tears (and fire) for poor old St. Joan. Unlike Shaw's sassy Joan, Vita Sackville-West's divinity and Luc Besson's action hero, this Joan is a peasant girl made good which makes it an interesting take on the legend.
of atrocities, followed by a book about a son murdering his mother and a father murdering his daughter, I thought it would be safe to read a book with a strong female lead dishing it out to all who cross her. Unfortunately, despite a heap of victories it all ends in tears (and fire) for poor old St. Joan. Unlike Shaw's sassy Joan, Vita Sackville-West's divinity and Luc Besson's action hero, this Joan is a peasant girl made good which makes it an interesting take on the legend.
September 20, 2021
Really good scene-setting, mostly focussing on how corrupt the generals and the royals were. Her voices were of little interest to anyone unless they could be made to say what would benefit them.
Which I found very convincing.
The descriptions of battle were stomach-turning.
Which I found very convincing.
The descriptions of battle were stomach-turning.
March 6, 2021
Gave up a quarter in, slow and ponderous
Read
July 6, 2012Read this book at my high school library when I was growing up. The story of Joan of Arc, her remarkable life, and doing everything she has done, dying at 19. It just makes me wonder about the role models of young girls these days. And how different it was during my time.
July 26, 2011
I thought the story of Joan of Arc was supposed to be mystical and violent; at least, thats what makes it interesting. There's not much of that here - not in a good way, anyway.
September 25, 2025
3.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews