Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc by Mark Twain Fiction Classics

<p><strong>Twain aware of his reputation as a comic asked that each installment appear anonymously so that readers will treat the piece seriously.</strong> Originally this novel was published as a serialization in Harper's Magazine beginning in April 1895. Regardless his authorship soon became known and the book edition published by Harper and Brothers in May 1896 credited Mark Twain.</p><p>The novel is presented as a translation (by Jean Francois Alden) of memoirs by Louis de Conte a fictionalized version of Joan of Arc's page Louis de Contes.</p><p>I like Joan of Arc best of all my books; and it is the best; I know it perfectly well. And besides it furnished me seven times the pleasure afforded me by any of the others; twelve years of preparation and two years of writing. The others need no preparation and got none. -- Mark Twain </p>