Saint Joan

by George Bernard Shaw
Saint Joan  
published 2001 by Penguin Classics
first published 1923
binding Paperback
isbn 0140437916   (isbn13: 9780140437911)
url http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S...
pages 160
characters Joan of Arc
setting France
description Joan of Arc, born in 1412, was burned at the stake in 1431, canonized by the Catholic Church in 1920, and, like most saints, whitewashed by history. C...more
date added
12-18-06



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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 277)



erik graff
erik rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
03/24/08

bookshelves: literature
Read in May, 1968
recommended to erik by: WFMT, my parents & my H.S. English teacher, Mr. Sileski
recommends it for: everyone
I first heard St. Joan performed on Chicago's WFMT as a radio play as a little boy. This is to say that my parents listened to it and allowed me to stay up for the whole thing. The production included the voices she claimed to hear. I had had auditions myself in feverish states and the portrayal was fascinatingly reminiscent. The whole while a spider was building her web on the lamp at my right hand, a web finished and already catching moths by the time of the play's conclusion.

I next re...more
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Chris
Chris rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
09/19/07

Interesting take on Joan. Shaw has clearly formed a very clear idea of her for himself, as his Introduction (also worth reading) took me longer than the play itself. It's not hagiography, but Joan is presented as a heroic, larger-than-life figure, but not one without flaws. She's also got a pretty great sense of humor as well. His depiction of Joan's inquisitors -- as faithful churchmen doing their job fairly and without cynicism -- makes for an interesting comparison with, for example, The ...more
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Slightly
Slightly rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
08/05/07

Read in August, 2007
recommends it for: Arthurian lovers
Most Joan of Arc stories are rather one sided. They clothe Joan in a white hat and the Inquisitors in black hats. the plot turns into a rather bland "hero's journey". Shaw doesn't do that.
He looked at the story through a sympathetic lens. It was refreshing to catch myself agreeing with the "bad guys". When Joan came face to face with her judge and jury, I could feel the conflict within some of the jury members regarding Joan's status as Saint or Witch.

I feel lik...more
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AB
AB rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
05/07/08

bookshelves: own, plays, religion
Read in March, 2008
recommends it for: Jocelyn, Leigh, Richard, Phil
The first scene of this play is one of the most perfect, most hilarious things I've ever read; it's probably my favourite single scene of any play, or at least my favourite comedic scene. The interplay between de Baudricout and his squire -- "Positive! Now see here. I am going to throw you downstairs," -- never stops being funny.

I was hesitant to actually read through the whole play, lest it somehow disappoint me and tarnish my love for Scene I, but I did, and it didn't.
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Xio
Xio rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
05/07/07

bookshelves: plays
I went awhile to an acting school during my grade school days toward the end of which we each were given monologues chosen by our instructors and I received Joan's trial-verdict speech, where they condemn her to a life in a windowless prison and she demands (ok maybe its begs) to be burned instead.

love love love

its a great speech (yes they told me you were fools and I was not to trust your fine words etc
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amy
amy rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
01/13/08

Read in January, 2008
I enjoyed the lengthy preface, which should by all rights be its own work. Shaw's arguments about "toleration" and the relationship between genius society were especially thought-provoking. Why should we take exception to what seemingly contradicts or overturns our preconceptions, if not because we simply don't understand? Feels like I've heard this argument so many times, but never phrased like Shaw puts it.
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D-t
D-t rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
03/28/08

for reasons unknown i read this and a couple other shaw plays in early high school. there was something about them i really liked.

in retrospect, there's something that seems really abnormal about an adolescent fixation on shaw plays. i believe i'd be alarmed if a child of mine pulled a stunt like that.
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Nate
Nate rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
06/21/07

bookshelves: plays
Read in March, 2007
This play is incredible. Joan's certainty of her mission and quick wits make for an exciting and touching show. It's fast paced and very funny...whodathunk? Joan is so spunky. I would love to see it, I've only read it.
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jacky
jacky rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
03/30/07

bookshelves: classroom-library, own, plays
Read in September, 2003
This was one of the first books I read in my senior seminar. The only reason I remember that is because it was the book that I had to read on the plane to France so that I wouldn't fall behind.
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Jessica
Jessica is currently reading it
12/03/07

bookshelves: currently-reading, plays
I belong to a small theatre troupe, and our producer has decided to do this as our next play. So I'm rereading it now; it's been years since I first read it.
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Joseph
Joseph rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
04/19/08

bookshelves: plays
Shaw was very readable and his premise for dealing with this tale was very unusual. A must read for anyone interested in Joan of Arc.
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Alyse
Alyse rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
01/18/08

bookshelves: classics, plays, plays-2008
Read in January, 2008
I have always loved Shaw, but never read this play. It is heavy, but at times light hearted. Joan ('The Maid')is a timeless character.
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Rolls
Rolls rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
03/19/07

Shaw let his brain take a backseat to his soul on this one and consequently wrote his greatest play.
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Melissa
Melissa rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
06/05/07

Read in January, 1998
Joan of Arc totally enthralls me. I really want to get some good texts on her.
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  1 comments

Maggie
Maggie rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
02/14/08

i wouldn't read this version, but read the play. one of my favorites.
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Caroline
Caroline rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
08/12/07

bookshelves: plays, read-in-2002
Read in January, 2002
An interesting look at Joan of Arc.
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Milly
Milly rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
02/12/08

bookshelves: --all, currently-reading
Read in February, 2008
Good so far ...
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Patrick
Patrick rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
08/28/07

good
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David
David rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
04/19/07

bookshelves: plays
 

Cassiel
Cassiel rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
09/29/07

bookshelves: classic, plays
 


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book data (includes all editions)

avg rating (all editions): 3.74 (223 ratings)
avg rating (this edition): 3.77 (214 ratings)
number of reviews: 18






other editions

St Joan (Macmillan Master Guides)
Saint Joan: A Chronicle Play in Six Scenes and an Epilogue (Shaw Library)
Saint Joan (Paperback)