Joan of Arc, by Mark Twain has been a fascinating read. Twain puts you into the story and life of France in the 15th century in such a flowing fashion that initially you wonder how much is fiction. As the story apexes at the last to her trial, it becomes apparent how thorough he has done his homework. Since hers in the only history given entirely under oath, the credibility of it is greatly pronounced.
I don't think that Twain really captures the general, the maid, the sister, the daughter, the saint, the hero, and all the other titles we could place on her. She was, it seems, everything that one could want to be, that all mankind could aspire to be, at the age of 19. Her heart, her courage, her compassion, her stamina, her grace, and her faith are seldom seen in any historical character, but one with no education, no training, no military or legal background, she is singular in more ways than one. Only the enlightened by heaven, seem to achieve this sort of greatness without all the other aids of study, experience, and tutelage. Angels visited with her daily. I think the reason Twain doesn't capture her in writing, is because, perhaps no one really could.
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