The Banner of Joan

The Banner of Joan is an epic poem about Joan of Arc published in 1975 by H. Warner Munn. The book was released in a limited edition of 975 copies to commemorate Munn's appearance as Guest of Honor at the inaugural World Fantasy Convention. The narrative follows the story of Joan of Arc in medieval France, presenting her legendary rise from peasant girl to military leader. The work connects to Munn's earlier Merlin series, serving as a thematic epilogue to those novels. Written in verse form, the poem combines historical elements with fantasy aspects that characterize Munn's style. The text places Joan's story within the broader context of French medieval history and folklore traditions. The poem explores enduring themes of faith, heroism, and the intersection of the mystical with historical events. Through its epic structure, the work examines how legends are born from real historical figures and events.

Limited reader reviews exist online for this obscure 1975 fantasy novel about Joan of Arc. Readers appreciate the blending of historical fiction with supernatural elements and Munn's imaginative take on the Joan of Arc legend. A few reviews note the book's atmospheric medieval setting. Main criticisms focus on the slow pacing, particularly in the early chapters. Some readers mention the archaic writing style can be difficult to follow. Available Ratings: Goodreads: 3.50/5 (4 ratings, 1 review) No ratings found on Amazon or other major book review sites The book appears to be out of print and reviews remain scarce. Most available commentary comes from vintage science fiction/fantasy blogs and forums where readers discuss it as part of Munn's larger body of work.

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🔹 Only 975 copies were printed in the original 1975 limited edition, making it a rare collector's item in fantasy literature 🔹 The book serves as an epilogue to Munn's Merlin series, uniquely connecting the worlds of Joan of Arc and King Arthur 🔹 H. Warner Munn was commissioned to write this work specifically for the inaugural World Fantasy Convention, marking a significant moment in fantasy literature history 🔹 The author chose to tell Joan of Arc's story through epic poetry rather than prose, following in the tradition of classical works like Homer's Iliad and Virgil's Aeneid 🔹 Despite being written in the 20th century, the work bridges medieval French history with modern storytelling techniques, making historical events accessible to contemporary audiences