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The Virgin Warrior

The Life and Death of Joan of Arc
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Virgin Warrior by Larissa Juliet Taylor is a biography that delves into the life of Joan of Arc, exploring her transformation from a peasant girl to a celebrated military leader and iconic figure. The book examines her complexities, motivations, and impact on 15th-century France, providing insight into her unique role in history without relying on the myths often associated with her legend.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3599
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by historical figures who defy conventional expectations, particularly in the context of medieval military and religious life. It offers a compelling portrayal of a unique and enigmatic young woman who rose to prominence during a pivotal moment in history, capturing both the myth and reality of her extraordinary life and adventures.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

France's great heroine and England's great scourge: whether a lunatic, a witch, a religious icon, or a skilled soldier and leader, Joan of Arc's contemporaries found her as extraordinary and fascinating as the legends that abound about her today. This book paints a portrait of Joan as a self-confident, charismatic and supremely determined figure.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

France’s great heroine and England’s great scourge: whether a lunatic, a witch, a religious icon, or a skilled soldier and leader, Joan of Arc’s contemporaries found her as extraordinary and fascinating as the legends that abound about her today. But her life has been so endlessly cast and recast that we have lost sight of the remarkable girl at the heart of it—a teenaged peasant girl who, after claiming to hear voices, convinced the French king to let her lead a disheartened army into battle. In the process, she changed the course of European history.

In The Virgin Warrior, Larissa Juliet Taylor paints a vivid portrait of Joan as a self-confident, charismatic, and supremely determined figure, whose sheer force of will electrified those around her and struck terror into the hearts of the English soldiers and leaders. The drama of Joan’s life is set against a world where visions and witchcraft were real, where saints could appear to peasants, battles and sieges decided the fate of kingdoms, and rigged trials could result in burning at the stake.

Yet in her short life, Joan emboldened the French soldiers and villagers with her strength and resolve. A difficult, inflexible leader, she defied her accusers and enemies to the end. From her early years to the myths and fantasies that have swelled since her death, Taylor teases out a nuanced and engaging story of the truly irresistible "ordinary" girl who rescued France.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Larissa Juliet Taylor presents a vivid and insightful biography of Joan of Arc, capturing her as a formidable and articulate figure, an approach that contrasts with portrayals of her as merely a historical symbol. Reviewers commend the book for its nuanced exploration of Joan's transformation from a naive girl to a determined military leader, using fresh and underexplored sources. The narrative is praised for its accessibility to both general readers and scholars, offering a well-rounded view of Joan as a flesh-and-blood woman who significantly impacted her era.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780300168952

Publisher: Yale University Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 15 October 2010

Country: United States

Imprint: Yale University Press

Illustration: 16 pp b-w illus.

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 127.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 249g

Pages: 280

About the Author

Larissa Juliet Taylor is Professor of History at Colby College. She is the author of the award-winning Soldiers of Christ: Preaching in Late Medieval and Reformation France and Heresy and Orthodoxy in Sixteenth Century Paris.

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