Joan of Arc

By: Mark Twain

Narrated by: Michael Anthony

Length: 15 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

Very few people know that Mark Twain wrote a major work on Joan of Arc. Still fewer know that he considered it not only his most important, but also his best work. He spent 12 years in research and many months in France doing archival work, and then made several attempts until he felt he finally had the story he wanted to tell. He reached his conclusion about Joan's unique place in history only after studying in detail accounts written by both sides: the French, for whom she raised an army to return the Dauphin to the throne; and the English, who fought the French in the Hundred Year's War and were ultimately Joan's executioners. This is a fascinating and remarkably accurate biography of the life and mission of Joan of Arc told by one of this country's greatest storytellers.

Public Domain (P)1992 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Expected dry parts...it was all good.

My teens are reading this in Medieval history this year, and I don't have time to read it, so I listened. In a book about Joan of Arc, 16 hours long, I expected there would be tedious parts I would have to bear. There were none.
I came away, amazed at Joan. Amazed at the way this peasant girl was able to answer for herself during her multiple trials as well as her faithfulness to her beliefs. Amazed at her courage and her compassion.

Entertaining writing, as one would expect from Mark Twain. This isn't a dull exchange of information, it's a well told story.
The narrator was good. Not the best of the best (Jim Dale ranking), but did well, with alteration in pitch so that you could tell when different people were speaking. There was some faint echo of the recording in the background that I noticed at pauses, but not distinct enough to detract from the story.

Recording overlay

I think the recording had other voices in background at times
Otherwise it was great!

Joan of Arc in good hands

It is wonderful to hear such lucid prose. Written by a master, performed admirably and the story, one for the ages.

Who knew?

Mark Twain has written a holy book! I was moved. It has the Mark Twain touches of funny side stories and the endless foibles of human beings, but all in all, Joan of Arc was real, holy, and beloved. France, France, France! Great food. Shooting yourself in the foot citizens!

Powerful account

The story of Joan of Arc as part of Mark Twain's catalogue is odd, but truly a undervalued and misunderstood masterpiece.
His grasp of the times shows true understanding and his grasp of her saintliness shows true spiritual comprehension.
Pick this one up!

Inspiring, Educational, and Entertaining

Probably only Mark Twain's could have written such a balanced but also biting portrayal of an inspiring life, with a tragic ending at the hands of a political machine.

Another precious treasure

This book is so stunning an account of Joan of Arc. I feel like I was there, that I know her, and that I got an insider’s glimpse into the story of her life. This book was so wonderful and charming, even with the end such as it was. Thank you, Audible, for bringing this one into my library.

Joan of Arc

Always heard of Joan of Arc. Now I know so much. Her life is a proof of the existence of God. She saved France.
The book is inspirational.

Excellent!

Great book by Twain taken from the journal of someone who was actually by Joan's side most of her life. The only thing I did not care for is the narrator attempting to sound like a woman when he spoke has Joan. Sounded much like a man trying to sound like a woman lol. Would have been much better if they could have a woman speak Joan's parts

Expect dramatization

On one hand, I do love the way that Mark Twain writes and find it fascinating that he even undertook to write such a complete book about Joan of Arc. On the other hand, it is a very dramatized biography - complete with hundreds of very long conversations that can't possibly be verified or likely even reported by anyone other than Twain. So it's more of a weaving of mythology, history and Mark Twain's imagination than it is any kind of true biography. It did make for easy listening though and a general understanding of what Joan of Arc was all about in history.