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Reviewed by Rebecca De Figueiredo for Readers' Favorite
I'd like to commend author Fred Hamburg on his choice of title: Jeanne d'Arc's Grand Strategy. It emphasizes Jeanne's actual achievements as a military commander, rather than her notoriety of being a successful female soldier in the Middle Ages and her downfall, which is the usual narrative. We follow her story from birth in about 1411. In her teens, a deep sense of piety encourages her to bring Charles VII to the French throne. Defying the authorities, she manages to get an audience with him, and after her success in lifting the siege of Orleans, Charles was crowned. The author includes a concise list of the events leading up to Orlean's liberation. Jeanne outshines some of the best military men in France in successive battles which perhaps does not bode well for her in this male-dominated world. When the king is crowned, 'La Purcelle' is at the height of her popularity.
Fred Hamburg sets out the facets of Jeanne d'Arc's personality and military successes in separate chapters, which makes it easy to read and refer back to. His writing is well researched with all the corresponding references at the end of each chapter. I liked his descriptions of the status quo in the Middle Ages, particularly how it was set against the backdrop of the all-important Catholic religion. The book is written with feeling and a strong sense of sympathy for Jeanne and her cruel and undeserved death. Jeanne d'Arc's Grand Strategy is also an interesting read for anyone drawn to European Medieval war and conflict. I now know more about Jeanne D'Arc's military campaigns than I did before.
