Joan of Arc by Monvel

“Go forward bravely. Fear nothing. Trust in God. All will be well.” -Joan of Arc

The peasant girl whom Winston Churchill called “the greatest heroine of European history” continues to inspire the hearts of people across the globe, particularly all who struggle against tyranny and oppression. This book was written and illustrated by Louis-Maurice Boutet de Monvel in 1896; four-hundred and fifty years after Joan's death. At the time of its publication, it was considered the most beautiful book ever written for children. Even today, 125 years after its publication, no children's book on Joan of Arc is it's equal.

Though Joan of Arc was cruelly put to death by her enemies for heresy, the world knew then, and it has been proven many times since, that this young peasant girl was not only a gifted military commander and a fearless leader, but more importantly, that it was her unalloyed love and devotion to God that enabled her to do the extraordinary things she did; the likes of which no other young person had ever done before, nor has ever done since.

“Consider this unique and imposing distinction. Since the writing of human history began, Joan of Arc is the only person, of either sex, who has ever held supreme command of the military forces of a nation at the age of seventeen.” -Louis Kossuth, Hungarian freedom fighter