“If I go to the fire, I shall only pass through it to eternal life in the hearts of men... In these hearts I shall live forever.”

These are the words of Joan of Arc, the brave girl, the daughter of a simple peasant, who led the French army to several important victories in their war against the English in 1429 and helped to crown King Charles VII as king of the country when she was only 17 years old. But her story ended with her being accused of heresy and burned at the stake.

The book is a play in 6 scenes. And although I'm not a big fan of plays, this one was written in a slightly old-fashioned way and yet reading it was very enjoyable and informative.

I was very impressed by the author's preface, which was written unusually after the end of the play and not before, and in which he explains more about Joan of Arc's personality from his point of view.

25 years after Joan of Arc's trial, she was acquitted and considered a martyr. And after about 4 centuries, she was given the title of saint and a special mass is held in her memory on May 30 of every year in every Catholic church, her name is given to churches and her image is placed on the altars of churches.

I think if Joan of Arc were here among us today, she would probably be tried in one way or another, but we wouldn't burn her for being a heretic and a witch, and all that. There are many issues that are controversial today, you know.

This work truly deserves praise for its remarkable respect towards all personages, their beliefs, and the time period. It has had such a profound impact on me that I couldn't help but increase my rating from 4 to 5. I simply can't stop thinking about it.

The exploration of the Protestantism/Nationalism of Joan in contrast to the established structures is extremely interesting. It delves into the complex relationship between an individual and the greater forces at play. And Joan herself is such a vivid and real girl. Her character comes to life on the pages, making the story all the more engaging.

It's not often that a work manages to capture these elements so effectively and leave such a lasting impression. It makes one reflect on the historical context and the significance of Joan's actions and beliefs. Overall, it's a truly outstanding piece of literature that I would highly recommend to others.

I was burned, all the same. The pain was searing and intense, as if my very being was on fire. The memory of that moment is etched in my mind, a constant reminder of the trauma I endured. Can they unburn me? It seems like an impossible task, yet a part of me still hopes. How can one reverse the damage that has been done? The physical scars may fade with time, but the emotional ones run deep. I wonder if there is a way to heal not only the outer wounds but also the inner ones. Maybe there is a treatment, a therapy, or a magic spell that can make me whole again. But until then, I will have to live with the consequences of being burned and hope that one day, I can find a way to move forward.

George Bernard Shaw's drama "Saint Joan" transported theater patrons in 1923 back to the Fifteenth Century.

Joan of Arc, a remarkable figure, asserted that she heard voices from God and the saints, guiding her to save France during the Hundred Years War and have the Dauphin crowned as King Charles VII. The teenage Joan, donning men's attire, led the soldiers in the Siege of Orleans in 1429. However, she was later condemned as a heretic by the Inquisition and burned at the stake. Subsequently, after papal investigations, she was acquitted and canonized as a saint.

Shaw crafted the character of Joan as a robust and intelligent woman who spoke with great directness to the male soldiers and clergymen in the play. Over the years, people have pondered whether she was a divinely inspired saint, a lunatic, a genius, or an early feminist. While Shaw depicts some members of the Inquisition as corrupt, many are portrayed as individuals who believed they were acting in the best interests of their Church. Political and religious organizations were apprehensive of strong leaders who might challenge their authority. The feudal system and the Church held significant power during that era. Overall, I found "Saint Joan" to be an engaging historical play with a multifaceted main character.

This was truly remarkable!

Even the preface was thrilling and captivating. Shaw is an astute individual, not overly clouded by his beliefs.

Every sentence was a delight; they were witty, wise, and a pleasure to read.

Prior to this, I knew almost nothing about Joan of Arc, but he did an excellent job of enabling the reader to understand all that is necessary to comprehend the story.

This is the play that truly made me relish reading plays.

I have probably not marked up a book to this extent with underlining since I received a Bible highlighter when I was six.

I can understand why G. K Chesterton adored this atheist pinko so much.

The play provided a peek into the 100 Years War and the manner in which the peers of an actual Saint would respond to meeting them in real life.

The self-serving feudal institutions were also severely criticized through Shaw's communist perspective.

I particularly liked this play because there were no clear heroes or villains.

It presented a more nuanced and complex view of the events and characters, making it a truly engaging and thought-provoking read.

I truly loved the character development and treatment of historical events in this work.

The characters were brought to life in a remarkable way. Each one had a distinct personality, with their own hopes, dreams, fears, and flaws. The author did an excellent job of showing how these characters evolved and grew throughout the story, facing various challenges and making difficult decisions.

The treatment of historical events was also very engaging. The author presented them in a way that was both accurate and interesting, weaving them seamlessly into the narrative. It was fascinating to see how the characters interacted with these events and how they were affected by them.

Overall, the character development and treatment of historical events were two of the strongest aspects of this work, and they made it a truly enjoyable and memorable read.

Shaw was, without a doubt, at his best as a playwright. Although I never had the opportunity to hear him give a speech, perhaps he was equally proficient or even better in that regard. I'm not accustomed to plays where the speakers have extremely long dialogues and very little action. Hardly anyone gesticulates or uses much emphasis. However, this might provide actors with more freedom to interpret the characters in their own way. The preface is indeed very long for a preface and seems more like a defense. But given the way it has been written, Shaw likely felt the need to defend his play. In fact, Shaw probably had to defend many of his plays and other writings. His portrayal of Joan is very likable. It's hard to believe, although we know it's true, that she was burned at the stake at the age of 18. Regardless of a person's current beliefs, whether she heard the voices of angels or had a mental condition, whether it was God or Satan or any other reason, there is something fascinating about the story of the young woman who was Joan of Arc. Shaw tells it as well as could be expected for the 1920s, and he infuses it with the morals of his age and those that came after. You can alter some of the details of Joan's story, and it can still be set in any time period. I don't think it's a "dated" play, and because of the minimal direction, it hardly reads like a play. What about Joan in modern times? Are we still attracted to her story? Does she still appeal now as she did in the 1920s when this play was written and produced? In the performances of plays in the 21st century from the 19th and 20th centuries, I don't think Saint Joan is at the top of the list of plays being staged. However, one might be able to find other Joans in history since her actual time. As Shaw points out in his preface/defense, there have been other women before and after her who were in obscure history then and now, women of different ages and backgrounds who stood up to be rebels. There are rebels now similar to Joan, as Shaw writes, and not all of them are on a mission they believe is sent by God. I know for myself that when I was a teenager, I was curious about the story of Joan. The story that many have come to know of the young girl who left her small village, her farming family, and left home and everything she thought she knew. She went to crown a king and lead a country, to follow her beliefs unwaveringly (whether they were right or wrong and whether or not they were real) because they were real to her. She believed she was right, and she had the courage to go against convention, society, to go against the grain or what was seen as the natural order of things. She was unnatural. As a teenager, I too lived in a small village that was once a farming community, and I too had strong beliefs that I would have gladly followed as far as they would take me. As a young woman, there were never enough stories of women in history who, from unknown backgrounds, shaped history. Whatever Joan was and whoever she was, she shaped history. Whether it was big or small, all of her own making or with others behind the scenes, events were altered. There is no denying that a mere girl was burned at the stake. Whether as a witch, a traitor, a spy, a lunatic, a cross dresser, or a heretic, she never had to die in the way that she did. That alone secured her place in history. Who was she, and why was she burned alive? Shaw delves only into the political and the religious; he hardly touches on her past before she went to war or much as to why. In his mind, even as a saint, she would be forsaken again. In history, it is often the case that humanity forsakes its saints, its heroes, and even in fear, would denounce itself in order to save itself.

The first work I read by Bernard Shaw was

a play that I rated three stars. The fourth star was for the wonderful introduction that Shaw wrote, in which he presented his - somewhat controversial - view of Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

The translation was excellent.

Shaw's works are known for their thought-provoking nature and sharp social commentary. This play was no exception. It delved into complex themes and made me question my own beliefs and values.

The introduction was particularly interesting as it provided insights into Shaw's perspective on Rousseau, a prominent philosopher.

Overall, reading this work was a rewarding experience that not only entertained me but also expanded my intellectual horizons.

I look forward to reading more of Shaw's works in the future and continuing to explore the depths of his brilliant mind.

I didn't review this the first time I read it, and I'm not sure I have the brain to review it now.

There is a Lot Going On in this one. It's truly a complex and engaging work.

It's an excellent play. The characters are complex, mired in their own biases and struggling with their own understandings. Every one of them is flawed to the point of being terrible people. Once you understand that GB Shaw was an Irish political activist, a lot about the narrative perspective starts to make sense. Because, wow, does he hate the English and thinks they should definitely go home to England and stay there.

There are characters who are antisemitic and Islamophobic, so watch out for that. And some characters call Joan all kinds of terrible things. In most (I think all) cases where that stuff happens, the character in question is generally accepted to be... maybe not evil, but terrible and bad? Although that's most people in the play?

This was another play that my drama group read aloud online as part of our Covid-19 summer of doing cold readings because what else is there to do? There were moments where we all laughed out loud, but there were more moments when we all went "holy crap, what?" There were a few things where we as a group were like, "Shaw is doing something wild with Catholicism here" but we were running way over time so we didn't get to chat about it very much.

TL;DR there's a lot to talk about in this book, both good and bad, and it's definitely worth reading. I highly recommend doing it in a group, because even what little discussion we had about it was really fun and interesting. It offers a rich tapestry of ideas and characters that can spark lively conversations and deep思考.

Joan of Arc was an incredibly strong woman. She was not only a feminist but also someone who firmly believed in and acted upon the voice of God that she claimed to have heard.

When she spoke, both the clergy and the military paid close attention. Her leadership was so remarkable that she led her country to victory. However, her story took a tragic turn when she was captured. After a trial, she met her untimely death.

Just like Joan of Arc, Shaw also had his own unique qualities. His dialogues were truly brilliant and provided valuable socio-political commentary on the time period in which he lived. Through his works, he was able to shed light on the various issues and challenges faced by society, making people think and reflect.

Both Joan of Arc and Shaw left a lasting impact on the world, each in their own distinct way. Their stories continue to inspire and educate people even today.

Well, as far as I understood, Bernard Shaw is Irish,... The main part of the story is described from the perspective of the French side and... as much as possible, it mocks the English (the Gaddemans!). Well, logically for me, since I have a particular affinity for that geographical area, its history, language, and such, it wasn't something interesting!

Of course, it should be noted that Shaw actually put the French side on the same level with his criticisms of their knowledge and awareness :)

(Haha..?!)

But among all these, the plot of the story is also... uh...! It started very well at first, and then suddenly in the middle of the book, everything became a mess and nothing made sense. Only the last three or four pages were interesting to me....

I would rather recommend you watch the movie than read its script: /

I don't know.

Maybe it just didn't appeal to my taste...

I was thoroughly entertained while reading this.

I had known some things about Joan of Arc before, but this book truly expanded my knowledge. It was so engaging that it actually prompted me to do further research on the subject.

For me, this is always a sign of a great book. When it makes me curious enough to want to learn more, it means it has really captured my interest.

The epilogue was especially liked by me. It added an extra layer of depth and closure to the story. It tied up some loose ends and left me with a sense of satisfaction.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in history or just looking for an interesting read. It is well-written, informative, and entertaining all at the same time.