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Cat's Review:
It’s books like this that remind me that I’m not reading a character, but a person.
Joan of Arc by Helen Castor is in three parts; before Joan, during and after. I loved how before Joan showed up on the “scene”, we got to know what France was like at this time period.
Reading about Joan, her passion to see her message from god to become a reality, for someone who doesn’t believe in this faith, I was starting to believe she had a vision.
It’s really hard for me to put into words what I’m feeling on this matter. I might not actually believe she saw saints or heard god speak to her, but I do believe her belief on seeing Charles solely on the throne of France.
It wasn’t just her at this time period, but a lot of commoners wanted the war to be finished and France united as one.
Well, that’s my theory anyway.
Helen Castor’s writing is perfection. It’s like she is talking to you personally, instead of to a general audience. I found this totally refreshing.
The amount of research she would’ve had to do must have been extent. I knew a brief overview of Joan (mainly from films that are false), but I didn’t know she was injured during the battles, and how much of a figurehead she was to the soldiers she was fighting with. Plus, she didn’t kill anyone personally.
I cannot wait to read more from Helen Castor.
