The Maid of Orleans

The Maid of Orleans by Frederick Henning is a dramatic retelling of the life of Joan of Arc the young French peasant girl who rose to prominence during the Hundred Years' War. The story chronicles her spiritual visions her military leadership and her pivotal role in the liberation of France from English occupation.The work delves into Joan's inner conflict exploring her devout faith and her belief that she was chosen by divine will to save her country. Henning portrays her as both a heroic and tragic figure emphasizing her courage and unwavering conviction while also highlighting the societal and political challenges she faced as a woman in a patriarchal world. The narrative follows her rise her involvement in key battles her eventual capture and her trial by the English. The emotional core of the story is her martyrdom as she is condemned for heresy and executed.