This was a very interesting book.

It had a captivating storyline that kept me engaged from the very beginning. The characters were well-developed and had unique personalities, which made it easy for me to form an emotional connection with them.

The author's writing style was also quite remarkable. The descriptions were vivid and detailed, allowing me to picture the scenes and settings in my mind as if I was actually there.

Additionally, the book explored some deep and thought-provoking themes that made me reflect on my own life and values.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an entertaining and intellectually stimulating read. It is definitely one that I will remember for a long time.

It took me nearly two-thirds of the way through this book to truly immerse myself in it.

There is, by necessity, an enormous amount of background story to establish the context. However, I ultimately found great enjoyment in this book about the heroic Joan of Arc.

She was incredibly courageous and never once退缩 from the mission she firmly believed God had ordained for her.

I most definitely emerged with a significantly greater understanding and appreciation for Joan.

The author dedicated an impressive amount of research, which spanned three decades of his life.

This is clearly evident in the final outcome.

It is remarkable how the author was able to bring the story of Joan of Arc to life with such detail and authenticity.

The book not only provides a historical account but also delves into the personal qualities and beliefs of Joan.

It is a captivating read that offers valuable insights into a remarkable figure in history.

Wow.

This book is truly amazing. It is the result of intense research, which gives a vivid and clear picture of Joan of Arc and the tumultuous era in which she lived.

Hers is a deeply touching and tragic story of an individual who followed her heart and her God to do good deeds, yet was ultimately abandoned by those she had assisted on earth.

We read this book for our neighborhood book club and had an outstanding discussion about it. It is truly inspiring.

If you decide to read it, it may take a little while to get fully immersed as it is extremely historically dense. The first 20 or so pages are particularly filled with facts and details to set the scene.

However, by the time you finish this book, you will be moved and inspired, and you will have a good understanding of the kind of person Joan of Arc truly was. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

It is a must-read for anyone interested in history, especially the story of this remarkable and heroic figure.

If you are a fan of Eric Larson novels, then you are bound to enjoy this.

This work is not only highly informative but also extremely interesting.

It offers a wealth of knowledge and details that will keep you engaged from start to finish.

The author has done an excellent job of presenting the information in a captivating manner, making it accessible to a wide range of readers.

Whether you are interested in history, science, or just a good story, this has something for everyone.

So, if you are looking for a book that will both educate and entertain you, look no further than this.

It is sure to become one of your favorites, just like Eric Larson's novels.

Give it a try and see for yourself!

I was truly hoping for a captivating and factual story, presented in a style similar to that of a story book, which would vividly depict this real-life hero. However, upon reading this book, it feels more like a review of something that has already been thoroughly studied.

While it might potentially be a good essay, it fails to meet my expectations. What I desired was a narrative that would draw me in, make me feel as if I was experiencing the hero's adventures and challenges firsthand. Instead, I was met with a more academic and detached approach.

It's disappointing because I had such high hopes for this book to bring the hero's story to life in a more engaging and accessible way. But unfortunately, it has fallen short of what I was looking for.

I still believe that there is a great story to be told about this hero, and I hope that someone will be able to capture it in a more compelling and story-like manner in the future.

This book encapsulates 100% of my knowledge regarding Joan of Arc. It is an extremely fascinating biography. It commences with a demand that the reader casts aside any skepticism concerning her religious visions. Spoto presents a cogent argument that the Godly voices which transformed a rural farm girl into a warrior for a unified France (and a king who was hardly worthy of her loyalty) were as real to Joan as my own heartbeat is to me.

If Spoto reminds us a little too often, it is but a minor annoyance with the book. Once spiritual skepticism is set aside, he does an outstanding job of demonstrating how Joan cultivated loyalty and belief among those who came to know her - and how she was ultimately betrayed by the corruption and indifference within the Catholic Church.

Spoto recognizes the complexity of her character and makes it clear - perhaps not entirely intentionally - that there are numerous ways to understand "the heretic who became a saint." If I were inclined to conduct an in-depth exploration, I would pick up some books that explore alternative ways of understanding her, as Spoto's approach is somewhat narrow and feels a touch overly confident throughout.

However, his research is thorough, and he presents a captivating and satisfying narrative that provides excellent context for understanding this iconic figure in history, about whom I actually knew very little.

Joan: The Mysterious Life of the Heretic Who Became a Saint by Donald Spoto offers an in-depth look at the life of Joan of Arc. For many readers who are seeking a single book on this subject and have no need for further research, this book is a great choice. It's a wonderful starter book, especially since a lot of the details about Joan's life come from the written testimonies of those who lived during her time. The author does an excellent job of sifting through the mundane and including only the relevant information.

My first encounter with a book about Joan was Regine Pernoud's Joan of Arc: By Herself and Her Witnesses. However, I couldn't even get halfway through it as it was too dry a read. It's great for those who want every little detail for further study, but not so much as a first book on this historical figure.

Joan's story is truly a roller coaster of emotions. I've experienced shock, disbelief, disappointment, wonder, awe, sadness, anger, frustration, happiness, determination, and mysteriousness. How could an ordinary young girl in the 1400s give up her comfortable life and put herself in danger to save France from the English? It's almost unfathomable.

What makes Joan's story even more tragic is that she was betrayed by the very king she helped put on the throne. Despite being mistreated and tortured as a prisoner, she remained steadfast in her protection of him. Even after more than 600 years, her story still invokes strong emotions and makes us question what it all really means.

The author does an amazing job of narrating Joan's story while also offering his own comments from a 1400s perspective. Although he shows a clear bias in favor of Joan, it's understandable given the evidence presented. I find Joan's story to be full of wonder. She was an ordinary girl who achieved extraordinary things and paved the way for generations to come.

Even though I'm not a very religious person, I'm still impressed by Joan's courage and her unwavering belief in God. Her story is the most impactful one I've encountered so far in my journey of learning about historical figures. It makes me wonder what other amazing stories are out there waiting to be discovered.

This book had a significantly greater religious inclination than I had expected.

It belonged to that category of books where I had to exert great effort to compel myself to complete reading it.

The reason being that I simply didn't have much interest in it.

The religious aspects seemed to overshadow other elements, making it a less engaging read for me.

Despite my initial hopes, I found myself constantly struggling to stay focused and motivated to get through the pages.

Perhaps if I had been more predisposed to religious themes, I might have had a different perspective.

However, as it stands, this book failed to capture my attention and enthusiasm.

It serves as a reminder that sometimes our expectations don't align with the actual content of a book, and we have to persevere through those less-than-ideal reading experiences.

I marked this book as "read", but in reality, I only managed to get through the first 100 pages. This is my criterion for deciding whether to continue with a book or not.

Perhaps it was just my "mood" at the time, but I found this reading to be extremely dry. The story didn't seem to engage me as much as I had hoped.

However, since I find the character of Joan to be compelling, I'm determined to give it another try at some point. For now, though, I've decided to put it on the shelf and come back to it later.

I'm hoping that when I return to it, I'll be in a better frame of mind and able to appreciate the story more fully. Maybe I'll discover that there's more to it than what I initially thought. Only time will tell.

This was an excellent biography.

It presented several counter arguments, and the author did a great job in defending his claims. He argued that Joan's character was pure, deeply devoted to her faith, and not at all delusional. She had a crucial role in the Hundred Years War, unifying France and leading it towards nationhood.

The book included numerous direct quotes from her trial, which added authenticity. The research was comprehensive and thorough.

The vocabulary was quite challenging for me, but I was glad to be able to read it on my Kindle. Joan of Arc, the Maid, is a captivating figure in history who has been slandered and misrepresented for centuries.

This book did an outstanding job in vindicating her true character and her rightful place in history. However, I would have preferred if it had included some text features such as maps, a glossary, and a timeline of events to enhance the reader's understanding.

Overall, it was a very informative and engaging read.

I found this to be an extremely worthwhile read.

I was already acquainted with the general outlines of the story. However, I had no inkling of the magnitude of calumny and malfeasance, particularly as demonstrated by Bishop Pierre Cauchon. He would stop at nothing to ensure that she was burned. It was truly evil.

Spoto summarizes, "Joan of Arc is undoubtedly an example of the victimized political prisoner, of the hostage unjustly taken, betrayed by those to whom she was devoted, and oppressed by those who prioritize power over people. Lonely in her suffering, terrified in the face of a dreadful death, she was ultimately a sacrifice to a suffocating form of fanaticism."

Spoto, Donald. Joan: The Mysterious Life of the Heretic Who Became a Saint (p. 206). HarperOne. Kindle Edition.

It appears to me that we must exercise caution to avoid making similar mistakes in our own era. We should learn from the past and strive to create a more just and equitable society, where individuals are not unjustly persecuted or sacrificed for the sake of power or fanaticism.

Donald Spoto has indeed done an excellent job with this painstakingly researched book.

My understanding of Joan was extremely limited, and the same was true for my knowledge of the 100 Years War and her crucial role within it.

She was merely 19 years old when the church/government (which were essentially one and the same) of England executed her.

However, I firmly believe that France would not have become what it is today without her.

Joan of Arc's story is one of great significance and inspiration.

Her unwavering faith and courage in the face of adversity are truly remarkable.

This book by Donald Spoto provides a detailed and in-depth exploration of her life and the historical context in which she lived.

It allows readers to gain a better understanding of the events that led to her trial and execution, as well as the impact she had on the course of history.

Overall, it is a fascinating and engaging read that I would highly recommend to anyone interested in history or the life of Joan of Arc.