Statues of Joan of Arc, canonised by the Pope in 1920, can be found in nearly every church in France. Churches in Rennes, Rouen, Nice, Orléans, Le Touquet, Versailles and many other places are dedicated to this Saint. Yet, as Helen Castor informs us, Joan of Arc was a name Joan never used. We marvel at the illiterate Maid’s linguistic ability to speak and persuade her followers of her special Divine powers and right.
Dr Helen Castor works extensively for the BBC including presenting Radio 4's Making History and She-Wolves on BBC Four.
In 2013 Helen Castor was a member of the winning team on Christmas University Challenge, representing Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge. She writes for the books pages of the Guardian, Sunday Telegraph, Sunday Times, Times Literary Supplement and the Times Educational Supplement. Her latest book Joan of Arc- A History has been selected as one of the book of the year. |