Mark Twain

Joan of Arc Mark Twain

Very few people know that Mark Twain wrote a major work on Joan of Arc. Still fewer know that he considered it not only his most important, but also his best work. He spent twelve years in research and many months in France doing archival work, and then made several attempts until he felt he finally had the story he wanted to tell. He reached his conclusion about Joans unique place in history only after studying in detail accounts written by both sides: the French, for whom she raised an army to return the Dauphin to the throne, and the English, who fought the French in the Hundred Years War and were ultimately Joans executioners. This is a fascinating and remarkably accurate biography of the life and mission of Joan of Arctold by one of this countrys greatest storytellers. I like Joan of Arcbest of all my books; and it is the best. Mark Twain Twains understanding of history and Joans place in it accounts for his regarding his book Joan of Arcas worth all of his other books together. Edward Wagonknecht, author of Mark Twain: The Man and His Work