The Maid and the Queen: The Secret History of Joan of Arc by Nancy GoldstoneMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
The Maid and the Queen... is a non-fiction historical narrative about the role that Yolande of Aragon played in the eventual end of the Hundred Years War. The title of the book is misleading because the book revolves mainly around Yolande and her achievements while Joan of Arc plays a minor role in the narrative. In my opinion, the accounts of the sacrifices and intrigues Yolande was involved in and her role in ending the war between France and England are truly more fascinating than Joan of Arc's martyrdom. Nancy Goldstone spins the tale beautifully and weaves the mysterious and the intrigues into an understandable and readable narrative perfect for history lovers. Although The Maid and the Queen... is beautifully written, there are several aspects that are purely conjecture with no historical evidence - only coincidences and guesswork, especially the connection between Yolande and Joan (the premise of the book). Although The Maid and the Queen... is a good read, it should be noted that the author did not prove her thesis, "So accomplished a statesman was Yolande, and so cleverly did she hide her tracks, that the myth that Joan of Arc appeared at Charles's court and convinced the king of his birthright unaided by any mortal being has stood unchallenged for nearly six hundred years. Still, if it is accepted, as it is often said that without Joan of Arc there would be no France, it is also true that without Yolande of Aragon there would have been no Joan" (249). There are some coincidences that Goldstone points out such as her son being in the position to help Joan meet with the Dauphin that does not solidly prove the premise of the narrative. It does, however, make for an interesting tale.
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