Joan of Arc: A Military Leader

Why did French soldiers follow a woman into battle and why did she win? This history of Joan focuses less on the religious and feminine issues in favour of an appraisal of the young woman's remarkable military and leadership prowess. The inclusion of schematics, maps and contemporary documents set her actions squarely within the context of the Hundred Years' War. Joan's campaign survived only three years, from 1428 to 1430, and the war continued for another 23 years after her capture but DeVries' clear and vivid account makes clear Joan's legacy. She inspired the French by demonstrating that the English could be beaten and she adversely affected the English campaign by capturing several leaders and holding them to ransom. Numerous photographs, diagrams and contemporary illustrations are used to good effect.