by Hilaire Belloc
This book is a recommended biography of Joan of Arc for the logic level (roughly grades 7-9) in volume 3 of Connecting with History. Because First Daughter has already read the biography for the grammar level, I thought I'd see if this would be a good fit. (I considered Mark Twain's Joan of Arc, and I think she could read it, but it would have to be an independent read as it's much longer than the Belloc one.)
This biography is relatively short and succinct, but excellently written.
As she stood, a dazzling light shone by her at her right hand, supplanting the day, and she was overcome with terror; till, from the midst of the glory, came a voice which spoke of the faith and its observance, and at last gave order that she should seek the uncrowned King of France, dispossessed by his foes, and rescue him and crown him at Rheims. At the third summons she saw St. Michael in his splendor and about him the soldiery of Heaven.There are a few parts that made me laugh. Here, she's being questioned by theologians and clergy before the dauphin entrusts his soldiers to her:
The learned Aymeiri put her the question always put to those who assert divine aid: saying that if it were God's will to deliver the realm, He could do so without men-at-arms. Whom she answered that, if they would give her a few knights, they would work out God's will well enough.Her end, of course, is clear from early on in the book. It's no secret she will be burned on the cross.
In those days--and now from the crowning nearly a month had gone by--as she was riding between the Bastard of Orleans and Regnault the Archbishop, she said in her joy at the people's cheering for the King: "Here are good folk, and here would I lie buried in this earth of theirs, when I die." But never was she to lie at peace in Christian earth beside the blessed dead, but more brightly, through the fire, to strike to Paradise.There is a high-ranking soldier called the Bastard; it's not meant in a condemnatory way and is merely his title or nickname or something. If you have a child who might repeat it, you'll want to explain it's not a word we throw around casually.
This is a nice little biography of St. Joan of Arc that First Daughter will read this year in sixth grade. It's a good option for those looking who have already read the Vision biography and might not have the time or inclination for Mark Twain's much longer book.
I read a Kindle version of this book (linked below in the italics) which was a good copy overall. There were a few mistakes in the text ("main" instead of "maid") but only a handful. The table of contents was linked and the formatting was decent.
I received nothing for writing this review. The links above are affiliate links to RC History, the home of Connecting with History. I purchased a Kindle version of this book (affiliate link to Amazon).
