What do You think about Joan: The Mysterious Life Of The Heretic Who Became A Saint (2007)?
I wanted to enjoy this book, as Joan of Arc is a fascinating historical figure, whether you believed her visions truly came from God or not - but I felt as though this book never quite got going. Whether that is because of its relatively short length, the lack of any real academic weight or the quite obvious religious feeling of the author, but I felt as though I were reading the author's personal polemic on the life of Joan of Arc, rather than the historical biography I had been hoping for.The author states that he drew on recently discovered documents pertaining to Joan's life and trial, but none of the references are footnoted or clearly explained, and many of the supposed quotes from the trial are quite clearly not only translated from French into England, but from the medieval parlance into more 'modern' language. Spoto draws a very engaging and poignant portrait of this remarkable nineteen-year-old, but it never feels authentic. It reads and feels very much like a fictional biography.On the whole, I was disappointed. I was looking for a historical biography of an intriguing medieval figure, and I got an almost literal hagiography.
—Caroline
Wow. This book is amazing. Intensely researched, this book gives a clear picture of Joan of Arc and the turbulent time at which she lived. Hers is a touching and tragic tale of someone who followed her heart and her God to do good, only to be abandoned by those she had helped on earth. We read this for our neighborhood book club and had an amazing discussion about it. Truly inspiring. If you read it, it takes a bit to get into because it is so historically dense and the first 20 or so pages are especially packed with facts and such to set the scene. You will come away from this book moved and inspired, and with a good idea of what kind of person Joan of Arc really was. I highly recommend it.
—Mindy
I was riveted while listening to this (audio book). I had to take the last disk into the car with me to finish it. Spoto does a great job of describing the cultural/religious context in which Joan lived. Though I can see where some may take issue with his handling of Joan's spirituality and visions/voices I found it powerful and insightful. Whatever they 'really' were - Joan obviously believed fervently in her visions and that belief spurred her to amazing feats.The strength of her conviction is awe-inspiring. Perhaps Spoto could have written from a more secular view-point, but I appreciated his handling of Joan's spirituality.
—Aposprout
