Joan
The true story of how I became Britain’s most notorious diamond thief

Having little previous knowledge of French history, I was still nevertheless able to put the Middle Ages time period of Joan of Arc's life into context of the Hundred Years War with England that would lead to that nation's Wars of the Roses (of which I've read quite a bit). Having now read Donald Sp......more

This biography of Joan of Arc was written by a man with a Ph.D. in theology. He also has a more than fair understanding of church history and canonical law. This added an interesting depth to many parts of the book while making it more accessible rather than less. I was surprised that he depicted Jo......more

4.5 Excellent read. Gave so much information in a few pages. Covered everything with good detail and support. I could not put it down. My only problem was with the extended rationalizing about her visions. They don't really need explained in our terms. She believed she had them. It was accepted at th......more

I enjoy biography generally and was especially please to see a book on a Catholic Saint. It didn't really occur to me until I was already listening that an author could negatively treat the Church or a Saint, that is mock them or dismiss their religious experience through the lens of secularism, how......more

Inspiring narrative of an inspirational life Donald Soto masterfully tells the tale of Joan the Maid or the Maid of Orléans or, better, Saint Joan of Arc. His historical accuracy is rigorous, and he courageously does something many academic historians fail to do: take her spiritual experience as genu......more