The Maid

Description

It is the early part of the fifteenth century and the tumultuous Hundred Years War rages on. The French city of Orleans is under siege, English soldiers tear through the countryside wreaking destruction on all who cross their path, and Charles VII, the uncrowned king, has neither the strength nor the will to rally his army. And in the quiet of her parents' garden in Domremy, a twelve-year-old peasant girl, Jehanne, hears a voice that will change her life - and the course of European history.

The tale of Jehanne d'Arc, the saint and warrior who believed she had been chosen by God to save France, and who led an army of 10,000 soldiers against the English, has captivated our imagination for centuries. But the story of Jehanne - the girl - whose sister was murdered by the English, who sought an escape from her violent father and a forced marriage, who taught herself to ride, and fight, and lead, and who somehow found the courage and tenacity to convince first one, then two, then tens, then thousands to follow her, is at once thrilling, unexpected and heart-breaking. Sweeping, gripping and rich with intrigue, betrayal, love and valour, The Maid is an unforgettable novel about the power and burden of faith and the exhilarating and devastating consequences of fame.

Promotion info

Think Philippa Gregory with swords. Epic, gloriously written and full of passion, battles and intrigue, this is a perfect novel for fans of upmarket historical fiction. 

Joan of Arc has an enduring appeal in art, film and books; Kimberley Cutter's novel shows the real woman behind the legend.

Reviews

'Joan of Arc has been depicted as a heroine, a victim, a witch and a saint, but Kimberly Cutter makes of her a heartbreakingly real human being. Searingly unsentimental but emotionally powerful, this is a groundbreaking and ultimately beautiful book. Essential reading' A L Berridge, author of Honour and the Sword

Author description

Kimberly Cutter has written for Harper's Bazaar, W Magazine, Vanity Fair, Men's Vogue, New York Magazine and The London Telegraph. From 2000 to 2004 she was the West Coast Editor for W Magazine. In 1998, she received her master's degree in fiction writing from the University of Virginia, where she was a Henry Hoyns Fellow. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.