Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, Volumes I & II [ANTIQUE] (Mark Twain)

Might be one of the wildest, most exciting real-life histories about a woman driven to achieve leadership & power in 15th-century Medieval Europe...

• Antique Hardcover.
• Conveniently portable & inspiring... bring these along on your travels!
• Volumes I & II.
• Part of a larger set of books titled 'Mark Twain's Works,' these books are an extension of Mark Twain's personal collection of works, signed with steel-engraved facsimile for authenticity: "This is the authorized uniform edition of all my books." ~Mark Twain
• Translated by Jean François Allen "out of the Ancient French to Modern English from the original unpublished manuscript in the National Archives of France."
• Copyright 1896 & 1899, Harper & Brothers Publishers.
• Printed in New York, USA, & London, UK.
• Excellent condition, like new. Covers slightly faded, some wear. Pages almost flawless.
• Age of books: 125-ish years old.

At the age of 17, Joan of Arc successfully led the entire French military to victory in the Hundred Years War.

Her military strategy effectively lifted the siege of Orleans. 

Her bravery & faith made her an international hero. 

Joan of Arc lived from 1412-1431 CE, a Medieval maven of power who was unstoppable.

She was born into the peasant class in Domrémy, France. A daughter to tenant farmers, Joan destroyed perceived class barriers to achieve her vision.

Joan walked so we could run. She opened doors.

After her success, the Catholic Church decided to canonize her as a saint.

Her leadership was rewarded in many ways, both while she was alive & still today as her legacy continues.

Twain's novel is presented as a translation by "Jean Francois Alden" of memoirs by Sieur Louis de Conte, a fictionalized version of Joan of Arc's page Louis de Contes, who happens to have the same initials as Samuel Langhorne Clemens, which is Mark Twain's real name. The novel is divided into 3 sections according to Joan of Arc's development: a youth in Donrémy, a commander of the army of Charles VII of France, & a defendant at trial in Rouen. They are entitled "In Domremy," "In Court & Camp," & "Trial & Martyrdom."

The novel was first published as a serialization in Harper's Magazine beginning in April 1895. Twain was aware of his reputation as a comic writer & he asked that each installment appear anonymously so that readers would treat it seriously. Regardless, his authorship soon became known, & Harper & Brothers published the book edition with his name in May 1896.

While many circumstances in the novel are fictionalized, the main events in Joan's life are accurate.