"Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc by The Sieur Louis De Conte, (Her Page and Secretary), Freely Translated Out Of The Ancient French into Modern English from the Original Unpublished Manuscript in the National Archives of France, by Jean Francois Alden" [Mark Twain]. Illustrated with drawings of F.V. Mond and from reproductions of old paintings and statues. Published by Harper, 1899. Later printing of the original first edition; 1899 on the title page and copyright 1896. Advertising on page 463 starts with "George Washington" (State "B")

Mark Twain wrote a major work on St. Joan of Arc, he considered it not only his most important but also his BEST WORK spending 12 years in research and many months in France doing archival research. It is the last completed novel to be published in Twain's lifetime, it is recognized as his finest and most poetical book. The story is based on historical facts studied by Mark Twain.

CONTENTS:

Translator's Preface
A Peculiarity of Joan of Arc's History
The Sieur Louis De Conte
Book I: IN DOMREMY
Book II: IN COURT AND CAMP
Book III: TRIAL AND MARTYRDOM

"...the character of Joan of Arc is unique. It can be measured by the standards of all times without misgiving or apprehension as to the result...When we reflect that her century was the brutalest, the wickedest, the rottenest in history since the darkest ages, we are lost in wonder at the miracle of such a product from such a soil. The contrast between her and her century is the contrast between day and night. She was truthful when lying was the common speech of men; she was honest when honesty was become a lost virtue; she was a keeper of promises when the keeping of a promise was expected of no one; she gave her great mind to great thoughts and great purposes when other great minds wasted themselves upon pretty fancies or upon poor ambitions; she was modest and fine and delicate when to be loud and coarse might be said to be universal; she was full of pity when a merciless cruelty was the rule...." [MT]

US: Priority (c.2-4 days) ---------- $15.50
Canada: Priority (c.2-6 weeks) ---- $27.50
World: Priority (c.2-8 weeks) ----- $37.50

Hard cover, original red cloth, gold and silver decorated front board and spine [a little surface wear, mostly the back-board; inscription on fep is dated '22nd.Nov. 1900'], 5.1/2" x 8", 461 pages + 2-page advertising + 37 plates on glossy paper; very good condition.