Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, Volumes 1 & 2

Mark Twain's Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc stands as his most ambitious historical fiction work, presenting the legendary French saint's extraordinary life through the intimate eyes of her trusted page and secretary, Louis de Conte. Narrated as de Conte's memoirs written in his twilight years, this sweeping two-volume epic transports listeners across three pivotal chapters of Joan's existence: her humble beginnings in the village of Domremy, her miraculous rise as military commander of Charles VII's army during the Hundred Years' War, and her harrowing trial and execution in Rouen. Originally serialized in Harper's Magazine beginning in 1895, this complete recording includes twelve chapters describing Joan's Great Trial that were controversially omitted from the magazine's original publication. Twain devoted twelve years of research and two years of writing to this singular work—his personal favorite among all his books—crafting Joan's character based on memories of his own daughter at seventeen. Twain's masterful narrative transforms a historical account into an emotionally resonant and deeply human story. Rather than presenting Joan as merely a religious icon, he reveals her as a complex, courageous young woman navigating impossible circumstances with conviction and grace. This audiobook is essential for history enthusiasts, literature lovers, and anyone drawn to powerful stories of faith, courage, and historical transformation.