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Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc - Volume 1

Mark Twain

Book Overview: 

Mark Twain’s work on Joan of Arc is titled in full “Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, by the Sieur Louis de Conte.” De Conte is identified as Joan’s page and secretary. For those who’ve always wanted to “get behind” the Joan of Arc story and to better understand just what happened, Twain’s narrative makes the story personal and very accessible.

The work is fictionally presented as a translation from the manuscript by Jean Francois Alden, or, in the words of the published book, “Freely Translated out of the Ancient French into Modern English from the Original Unpublished Manuscript in the National Archives of France.”

De Conte is a fictionalized version of Joan of Arc’s page Louis de Contes, and provides narrative unity to the story. He is presented as an individual who was with Joan during the three major phases of her life – as a youth in Domremy, as the commander of Charles’ army on military campaign, and as a defendant at the trial in Rouen. The book is presented as a translation by Alden of de Conte’s memoirs, written in his later years for the benefit of his descendants.

Twain based his descriptions of Joan of Arc on his daughter, Susy Clemens, as he remembered her at the age of seventeen.

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Book Excerpt: 
. . . when that person gets into trouble himself, it is time that the King rise up and do something.

The big event filled us young people with talk, too. We let it flow in a steady stream while we tended the flocks. We were beginning to feel pretty important now, for I was eighteen and the other youths were from one to four years older—young men, in fact. One day the Paladin was arrogantly criticizing the patriot generals of France and said:

"Look at Dunois, Bastard of Orleans—call him a general! Just put me in his place once—never mind what I would do, it is not for me to say, I have no stomach for talk, my way is to act and let others do the talking—but just put me in his place once, that's all! And look at Saintrailles—pooh! and that blustering La Hire, now what a general that is!"

It shocked everybody to hear these great names so flippantly handled, for to us these renowned soldiers were almost gods. In their f. . . Read More

Community Reviews

"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.

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.

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 grea

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

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,

Very long book and worth every minute!

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.

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.

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