Joan of Arc: The Early Debate (Ecclesiastical History/Religion) - Softcover

With this dense and intricate book Fraioli has done an immense service to anyone interested in Joan of Arc. She skillfully disentangles countless textual threads, all centered around one problem: the nature of Joan's mission as it was examined in the early theological debates... A thorough and timely book. MYSTICS QUARTERLY For readers pondering how it was possible for a 17-year-old girl to persuade her king and his entourage that she was sent by God to lead their party into battle...[this] will be a welcome resourse. SPECULUM

Joan of Arc arrived at the French court claiming to be sent by God to come to the aid of the dauphin Charles. Most studies of Joan focus on her political expediency, but the starting point of this book is her assertion that she was sent by God: it is the first real exploration of the application of the Catholic doctrine of 'discretio spirituum' (the discernment of spirits) to her case, and of her reception as a visionary woman. The author examines contemporary theological documents which show genuine debate about Joan's mission and whether she was diabolically or divinely inspired, also taking into account the two major literary works dealing with her, Christine de Pizan's 'Ditie de Jehanne d'Arc' and Martin Le Franc's 'Le champion des dames', as well as Joan's own letter to the English. Appendices offer translations of pertinent Latin and French texts. Professor DEBORAH FRAIOLI teaches in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures at Simmons College, Boston.