Blood Red, Sister Rose

Blood Red, Sister Rose is Thomas Keneally's 1974 historical novel about Joan of Arc, following her journey from the village of Domrémy to the coronation of Charles VII of France. The narrative centers on Joan's experiences, her relationship with her divine voices, and her rise from peasant girl to military leader. The book features key historical figures including Charles VII and Gilles de Rais, exploring the complex dynamics between Joan and the French court. Through alternating perspectives, the story presents Joan's inner world alongside the political machinations of medieval France. Keneally reconstructs the historical events through intimate psychological portraits, particularly of Joan and Charles. The novel includes Joan's conversations with her celestial voices, presenting these supernatural elements as integral parts of her lived experience. The work examines themes of faith, power, and identity, questioning how divine inspiration intersects with earthly politics. Through Joan's story, Keneally explores the tension between individual conviction and institutional authority.

Readers consider this a thoughtful reimagining of Joan of Arc's story, with Keneally taking a more grounded and human approach to her character. What readers liked: - Focus on Joan's relationships with other characters - Historical details and battle sequences - Writing style that balances medieval authenticity with readability - Character depth beyond typical saint/warrior portrayals What readers disliked: - Slow pacing in first third of book - Dense prose requires focused reading - Some found the military details excessive - Modern language choices felt jarring to some Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (121 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (12 reviews) Notable reader comments: "A fresh take that shows Joan as both holy warrior and teenage girl" - Goodreads reviewer "The battle scenes put you right there in the mud and blood" - Amazon review "Takes time to get going but rewards patient readers" - LibraryThing review

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🔸 Thomas Keneally, the author, is best known for writing "Schindler's Ark" (1982), which was later adapted into Steven Spielberg's Oscar-winning film "Schindler's List." 🔸 Joan of Arc was just 19 years old when she was executed by burning at the stake in 1431, making her one of history's youngest martyrs. 🔸 The novel's title "Blood Red, Sister Rose" refers to Joan's nickname "La Pucelle" (The Maid) and the red colors of both warfare and martyrdom associated with her story. 🔸 The book was published in 1974, the same year Joan of Arc was chosen as the patron saint of France's National Front political party, sparking renewed interest in her story. 🔸 Despite being illiterate, the historical Joan of Arc demonstrated remarkable military strategy and successfully led several crucial battles during the Hundred Years' War.