Other editions of book Saint Joan;: A chronicle play in six scenes and a epilogue

With Saint Joan, George Bernard Shaw reached the height of his fame as a dramatist. Fascinated by the story of Joan of Arc but unhappy with "the whitewash which disfigures her beyond recognition," he presents a realistic Joan at war not just with British invaders but with realpolitik. This is a masterpiece of the theater of ideas, presented in the most eloquent, vital, human, and moving terms. Blackstone commissioned this production from the award-winning Hollywood Theater of the Ear.

Saint Joan is a play by George Bernard Shaw, based on the life and trial of Joan of Arc. Published not long after the canonization of Joan of Arc by the Roman Catholic Church, the play dramatises what is known of her life based on the substantial records of her trial. Shaw studied the transcripts and decided that the concerned people acted in good faith according to their beliefs. He wrote: "There are no villains in the piece. Crime, like disease, is not interesting: it is something to be done away with by general consent, and that is all [there is] about it. It is what men do at their best, with good intentions, and what normal men and women find that they must and will do in spite of their intentions, that really concern us." Michael Holroyd has characterised the play as "a tragedy without villains" and also as Shaw's "only tragedy." John Fielden has discussed further the appropriateness of characterising Saint Joan as a tragedy.

Exclusive to Penguin Classics: the definitive text of Shaw’s powerful historical drama about Joan of Arc, which led him to win the Nobel Prize for Literature—part of the official Bernard Shaw Library A Penguin Classic With Saint Joan, which distills many of the ideas Shaw had been exploring in earlier works on politics, religion, feminism, and creative evolution, he reached the height of his fame as a dramatist. Fascinated by the story of Joan of Arc, but unhappy with the way she had traditionally been depicted, Shaw wanted to remove “the whitewash which disfigures her beyond recognition.” He presents a realistic Joan: proud, intolerant, naïve, foolhardy, and brave—a rebel and a woman for Shaw’s time and our own. This is the definitive text under the editorial supervision of Dan H. Laurence. The volume includes Shaw’s Preface of 1924; the cast list of the first production of Saint Joan; a chronology; and the essay “On Playing Joan” by Imogen Stubbs.

Hailed by T. S. Eliot as "a dramatic delight," George Bernard Shaw's only tragedy traces the life of the peasant girl who led French troops to victory over the English in the Hundred Years' War. An avid socialist, Shaw regarded his writing as a vehicle for promoting his political and humanitarian views and exposing hypocrisy. With Saint Joan, he reached the height of his fame, and it was this play that led to his Nobel Prize in Literature for 1925. In the six centuries since her martyrdom, Joan of Arc has inspired artists, musicians, and writers. Shaw's heroine is unlike any previous interpretation — not a witch, saint, or madwoman but a pre-feminist icon, possessed of innate intelligence and leadership qualities that challenge the authority of church and state. She is also a real human being, warm and sincere, whose flaws include an obstinacy that leads to her undoing. This edition includes a substantial, informative Preface by the author.

Rediscover the story of the inspirational Saint Joan of Arc with the classic play by George Bernard Shaw. The historical saint begins her story as a simple country girl in fifteenth century France who is inspired by visions from God to help liberate her country from the English. She secures soldier’s clothing and convinces the soon-to-be king, Charles, to begin battling for his country. Though her regiment succeeds in battle after battle, her enemies (the English) move against her. When Joan moves to liberate Paris from the English control—against the advice of her friends—she is captured and tried for heresy. Despite help from a Bishop and the Inquisitor, who truly want to see Joan succeed, her beliefs simply do not match with the Church; people do not hear visions from God, only from the church, therefore Joan must be possessed by demons. Subsequently, Joan is sentenced to death. Now read this beautiful new edition of the talented George Bernard Shaw’s play, Saint Joan. Discover why the Catholic Church made this young woman into one of the most famous saints known today.

Saint Joan is a play by George Bernard Shaw about 15th century French military figure Joan of Arc. Premiering in 1923, three years after her canonization by the Roman Catholic Church, the play dramatises what is known of her life based on the substantial records of her trial. Shaw studied the transcripts and decided that the concerned people acted in good faith according to their beliefs. Scene IA fine spring morning on the river Meuse, between Lorraine and Champagne, in the year 1429 A.D., in the castle of Vaucouleurs.Captain Robert de Baudricourt, a military squire, handsome and physically energetic, but with no will of his own, is disguising that defect in his usual fashion by storming terribly at his steward, a trodden worm, scanty of flesh, scanty of hair, who might be any age from 18 to 55, being the sort of man whom age cannot wither because he has never bloomed.The two are in a sunny stone chamber on the first floor of the castle. At a plain strong oak table, seated in chair to match, the captain presents his left profile. The steward stands facing him at the other side of the table, if so deprecatory a stance as his can be called standing. The mullioned thirteenth-century window is open behind him. Near it in the corner is a turret with a narrow arched doorway leading to a winding stair which descends to the courtyard. There is a stout fourlegged stool under the table, and a wooden chest under the window.

'What other judgment can I judge by but my own?'Charting the meteoric rise and fall of Joan of Arc and her mission to drive the English from France, Shaw's Saint Joan draws directly on the medieval records to cut through the sentiment that characterized previous literary treatments of her story. A powerful example of a new kind of history play, its staging of dissent and social constraint, personal responsibility and female assertion, as well as fervent adherence to a cause, gave it a powerful modernity in its own day and continuing resonance in ours. Acclaimed internationally, this instant modern classic propelled Shaw to the Nobel Prize for 1925. This new edition includes Shaw's definitive text and full Preface and provides the most comprehensive scholarly treatment of the play to date, featuring commentary on: * the historical and theatrical context* the development of the text and stage-worthiness of the play* correlation of the dialogue with the records of Jeanne D'Arc's trial * an international stage history* an appendix identifying the historical models for the characters

*Winner of the 2011 Audie® Award for Best Audio Drama *Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award [**This is a Full-Cast Audio Theater Production] ''Joan of Arc, a village girl from the Vosges, was born about 1412--burnt for heresy, witchcraft, and sorcery in 1431--rehabilitated after a fashion in 1456--designated Venerable in 1904--declared Blessed in 1908--and finally canonized in 1920. She is the most notable Warrior-Saint in the Christian calendar, and the queerest fish among the eccentric worthies of the Middle Ages.''--George Bernard Shaw With Saint Joan, Shaw reached the height of his fame as a dramatist. Fascinated by the story of Joan of Arc but unhappy with ''the whitewash which disfigures her beyond recognition,'' he presents a realistic Joan at war not just with British invaders but with realpolitik. This is a masterpiece of the theater of ideas, presented in the most eloquent, vital, human, and moving terms. Blackstone Audio commissioned this production from the award-winning Hollywood Theater of the Ear. **The distinguished cast of readers for this production includes: EDWARD HERRMANN, AMY IRVING, KRISTOFFER TABORI, MARK BRAMHALL, SCOTT BRICK, KENNETH DANZIGER, ROBERTSON DEAN, GREGORY ITZIN, JOHN LEE, STEFAN RUDNICKI, ROBIN SACHS, NED SCHMIDTKE, ARMIN SHIMERMAN, KITTY SWINK, GRANVILLE VAN DUSEN.

[MP3CD audio format in Vinyl case.] *Winner of the 2011 Audie® Award for Best Audio Drama *Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award [**This is a Full-Cast Audio Theater Production] ''Joan of Arc, a village girl from the Vosges, was born about 1412--burnt for heresy, witchcraft, and sorcery in 1431--rehabilitated after a fashion in 1456--designated Venerable in 1904--declared Blessed in 1908--and finally canonized in 1920. She is the most notable Warrior-Saint in the Christian calendar, and the queerest fish among the eccentric worthies of the Middle Ages.''--George Bernard Shaw With Saint Joan, Shaw reached the height of his fame as a dramatist. Fascinated by the story of Joan of Arc but unhappy with ''the whitewash which disfigures her beyond recognition,'' he presents a realistic Joan at war not just with British invaders but with realpolitik. This is a masterpiece of the theater of ideas, presented in the most eloquent, vital, human, and moving terms. Blackstone Audio commissioned this production from the award-winning Hollywood Theater of the Ear. **The distinguished cast of readers for this production includes: EDWARD HERRMANN, AMY IRVING, KRISTOFFER TABORI, MARK BRAMHALL, SCOTT BRICK, KENNETH DANZIGER, ROBERTSON DEAN, GREGORY ITZIN, JOHN LEE, STEFAN RUDNICKI, ROBIN SACHS, NED SCHMIDTKE, ARMIN SHIMERMAN, KITTY SWINK, GRANVILLE VAN DUSEN.