France Wars Religion

Beyond the Myth—The Story Behind the Woman Joan of Arc: The Maid and the Fire is a sweeping, intimate portrait of one of history’s most extraordinary figures—a teenage girl who defied kings, armies, and centuries of disbelief to carve her name into the conscience of the world. Clara de Rémigny breathes new life into the story we think we know, stripping away the layers of myth to reveal the human Joan: a farmer’s daughter from Domrémy, born into a fractured France, whose unshakable faith propelled her from the muddy fields of Lorraine to the heart of royal power. When the voices ...

In this audiobook, read by Paul Spera, each historical event is replaced into context and presented in clear and easy-to-read snippets, so that younger and older readers can deepen their understanding of how modern France came to be and broaden their culture.

During the tumultuous Hundred Years War between England and France, a young peasant girl nicknamed "The Maid" (La Pucelle) followed her heart and came to the aid of her nation. Facing unimaginable odds, Joan's belief in her mission from God continued to propel her forward. Within months, she was directing soldiers and bravely fighting for her nation.

Between 1942 and 1945, a group of ordinary citizens formed a network to smuggle Dutch Jews and others targeted by the Nazis south into France, via Paris, and then to Switzerland. This network became known as the Dutch-Paris Escape Line, eventually growing to include 300 people and expanding its reach into Spain. Led by Jean Weidner, a Dutchman living in France, many lacked any experience in clandestine operations or military tactics, and yet they became one of the most effective resistance groups of the Second World War.