"Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc" is Mark Twain's incredible retelling of the life of Joan of Arc from the point of view of the Sieur Louis de Conte, her page and secretary. The way in which the story is told makes it personal and brings the reader as if in an illusion, right in the midst of the characters. The Conte was born a couple years previous to Joan, and as a result he remembers almost everything she accomplished during her life. Joan was born in 1412 in the peasant village of Domrémy, in northeastern France, during the hundred years war, consequently, she was raised as a patriot and much of what Joan accomplished is credited to this quality. Though Joan was bashful, she was a fearless, intelligent child, and paired with her …show more content…
Her argument left the priest with only the words, "she said true... I am to blame." (p. 45) As time went on Joan acquired many nicknames. "The Brave" was given her on the day she confronted Benoist - the village madman, who had escaped from his cage and surprised the village children - or rather young adults by now. While everyone ran for their life, Joan selflessly walked up to Benoist, and by the time the narrator opened his eyes, she was walking the man back to the village holding his hand, grasping the axe with the other. In her mid-fourteenth year Joan became grave, mainly because she carried France upon her soul, and stayed so for a year and a half. One day the Sieur Louis de Conte happened to notice a bright light, not of this world, speaking to Joan close to the village spring, naturally he was terrified. When this light disappeared Joan told him part what her voices - those of St. Michael and Catherine mostly - had revealed to her. She told the Conte that she was to lead the armies of France to victory, shocking him into disbelief. From then on she had a "new fire in her eyes" and "she moved and spoke with energy and decision." (p.