“This is not your grandmother’s St. Joan. . . . If every generation gets the Joan it deserves, ours could do worse than an ass-kicking, avenging angel fighting simply for the right to fight.”—The New York Times Book Review
“It is as if Chen has crept inside a statue and breathed a soul into it, re-creating Joan of Arc as a woman for our time.”—Hilary Mantel, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Booker Prize winner Wolf Hall
“A secular reimagining and feminist celebration of the life of Joan of Arc that transforms the legendary saint into a flawed yet undeniable young woman.”—USA Today
1412. France is mired in a losing war against England. Its people are starving. Its king is in hiding. From this chaos emerges a teenage girl who will turn the tide of battle and lead the French to victory, becoming an unlikely hero whose name will echo across the centuries.
In Katherine J. Chen’s hands, the myth and legend of Joan of Arc is transformed into a flesh-and-blood young woman: reckless, steel-willed, and brilliant. This meticulously researched novel is a sweeping narrative of her life, from a childhood steeped in both joy and violence, to her meteoric rise to fame at the head of the French army, where she navigates the perils of the battlefield and the equally treacherous politics of the royal court. Many are threatened by a woman who leads, and Joan draws wrath and suspicion from all corners, while her first taste of fame and glory leaves her vulnerable to her own powerful ambition.
With unforgettably vivid characters, transporting settings, and action-packed storytelling, Joan is a thrilling epic, a triumph of historical fiction, as well as a feminist celebration of one remarkable—and remarkably real—woman who left an indelible mark on history.
Genre: Historical
“It is as if Chen has crept inside a statue and breathed a soul into it, re-creating Joan of Arc as a woman for our time.”—Hilary Mantel, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Booker Prize winner Wolf Hall
“A secular reimagining and feminist celebration of the life of Joan of Arc that transforms the legendary saint into a flawed yet undeniable young woman.”—USA Today
1412. France is mired in a losing war against England. Its people are starving. Its king is in hiding. From this chaos emerges a teenage girl who will turn the tide of battle and lead the French to victory, becoming an unlikely hero whose name will echo across the centuries.
In Katherine J. Chen’s hands, the myth and legend of Joan of Arc is transformed into a flesh-and-blood young woman: reckless, steel-willed, and brilliant. This meticulously researched novel is a sweeping narrative of her life, from a childhood steeped in both joy and violence, to her meteoric rise to fame at the head of the French army, where she navigates the perils of the battlefield and the equally treacherous politics of the royal court. Many are threatened by a woman who leads, and Joan draws wrath and suspicion from all corners, while her first taste of fame and glory leaves her vulnerable to her own powerful ambition.
With unforgettably vivid characters, transporting settings, and action-packed storytelling, Joan is a thrilling epic, a triumph of historical fiction, as well as a feminist celebration of one remarkable—and remarkably real—woman who left an indelible mark on history.
Genre: Historical
Praise for this book
"Measured, austere, profoundly physical. I loved it." - Jo Baker
"When you look up the term 'historical fiction' in the dictionary it should say, simply, Read Katherine J. Chen." - Steve Berry
"Pacy but lyrical, which takes great skill . . . Joan possesses a mystical, spiritual quality that gleams within the dirt and brutality of war, while her kindness and compassion shine through. I loved the writing, the imagery, the feeling of authenticity: this novel will stay with me for a long time." - Elizabeth Chadwick
"Beautifully written and confidently told, this is a story of how feminine strength and will can change the world." - Megan Chance
"This Joan is of the earth - scrappy and strong, resilient and curious. An ambitious, thrilling novel." - Fiona Davis
"An epic novel with the mythic power of a fairytale." - Christina Baker Kline
"It is as if the author has crept inside a statue and breathed a soul into it, re-creating Joan of Arc as a woman for our time." - Hilary Mantel
"Every era has a need to recast the French maiden warrior in a manner that renews her relevance. In Chen's transporting prose, you will meet a towering new Joan of Arc, one of amazing physical strength, kindness, loyalty, and endurance." - Sena Jeter Naslund
"Visceral and piercing - I was blown away." - Allison Pataki
"A wholly original novel that inspires one's mind and awakens one's soul. With Joan, Katherine J. Chen has created nothing short of a masterpiece." - Alyson Richman
"Katherine J. Chen has stunningly summoned another time and place." - M J Rose
"A glorious, sweeping novel . . . Richly imagined, poignant and inspiring." - Jennifer Saint
"In Katherine J. Chen's capable hands, Joan becomes fully flesh and achingly real." - Lisa Wingate
"When you look up the term 'historical fiction' in the dictionary it should say, simply, Read Katherine J. Chen." - Steve Berry
"Pacy but lyrical, which takes great skill . . . Joan possesses a mystical, spiritual quality that gleams within the dirt and brutality of war, while her kindness and compassion shine through. I loved the writing, the imagery, the feeling of authenticity: this novel will stay with me for a long time." - Elizabeth Chadwick
"Beautifully written and confidently told, this is a story of how feminine strength and will can change the world." - Megan Chance
"This Joan is of the earth - scrappy and strong, resilient and curious. An ambitious, thrilling novel." - Fiona Davis
"An epic novel with the mythic power of a fairytale." - Christina Baker Kline
"It is as if the author has crept inside a statue and breathed a soul into it, re-creating Joan of Arc as a woman for our time." - Hilary Mantel
"Every era has a need to recast the French maiden warrior in a manner that renews her relevance. In Chen's transporting prose, you will meet a towering new Joan of Arc, one of amazing physical strength, kindness, loyalty, and endurance." - Sena Jeter Naslund
"Visceral and piercing - I was blown away." - Allison Pataki
"A wholly original novel that inspires one's mind and awakens one's soul. With Joan, Katherine J. Chen has created nothing short of a masterpiece." - Alyson Richman
"Katherine J. Chen has stunningly summoned another time and place." - M J Rose
"A glorious, sweeping novel . . . Richly imagined, poignant and inspiring." - Jennifer Saint
"In Katherine J. Chen's capable hands, Joan becomes fully flesh and achingly real." - Lisa Wingate
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