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Saint Joan (New Mermaids) Paperback – August 29, 2008

by Bernard Shaw (Author), Jean Chothia (Editor)

4.5 202 ratings

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'What other judgment can I judge by but my own?'

Charting the meteoric rise and fall of Joan of Arc and her mission to drive the English from France, Shaw's Saint Joan draws directly on the medieval records to cut through the sentiment that characterized previous literary treatments of her story. A powerful example of a new kind of history play, its staging of dissent and social constraint, personal responsibility and female assertion, as well as fervent adherence to a cause, gave it a powerful modernity in its own day and continuing resonance in ours. Acclaimed internationally, this instant modern classic propelled Shaw to the Nobel Prize for 1925.

This new edition includes Shaw's definitive text and full Preface and provides the most comprehensive scholarly treatment of the play to date, featuring commentary on:

* the historical and theatrical context

* the development of the text and stage-worthiness of the play

* correlation of the dialogue with the records of Jeanne D'Arc's trial

* an international stage history

* an appendix identifying the historical models for the characters

Print length

224 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Methuen Drama
Publication date

August 29, 2008
Dimensions

5.18 x 0.55 x 7.84 inches
ISBN-10

0713679964
ISBN-13

978-0713679960
Lexile measure

NP0L
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About the Author

George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) was an Irish playwright and critic, whose plays are famous for their wit, eloquence and interest in provocative ideas. Inspired mainly by the social dramas of Ibsen, he began to write plays of his own while working as an arts critic, though they were not performed until later. His play Mrs Warren's Profession was banned by the Lord Chamberlain until 1925. Unable to find commercial audiences for his plays, Shaw wrote extensive Prefaces for them, elaborating on the social and moral themes that they explore. Subsequent plays include Major Barbara, Pygmalion, Heartbreak House, Back to Methuselah, and Saint Joan. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1925, and an Academy Award in 1938, for the screenplay of the film adaptation of Pygmalion, a film which would later form the basis for My Fair Lady.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Methuen Drama; First Edition (August 29, 2008)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0713679964
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0713679960
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ NP0L
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.3 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.18 x 0.55 x 7.84 inches

Customer Reviews:
4.5 202 ratings

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4.5 out of 5

202 global ratings

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Brian Loube

Great play!

Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2019

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Everything about this book was good. It should be noted that George Bernard Shaw was not a very good person. Look him up. It should also be noted that about 31 percent of the book is Shaw writing about Joan or Arc herself and is not actually part of the play. Otherwise, this is an incredible book and I highly reccomend it to anyonee that loves plays and classic books.

2 people found this helpful

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Kenneth Roman

Brilliant

Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2017

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I was re-introduced to St. Joan by the National Theatre Live broadcast of a modern dress production from London's Donmar Playhouse. Rereading the book after many years reminded me of Shaw's genius. It's a fast, fun, thought-provoking read.

One person found this helpful

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Scott M. Spector, MD

Good play with historical relavance

Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2017

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I read it before seeing the British National Theater production. It made the play more enjoyable and understandable. Matched it to audible.

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Thomas R. Morgan

Shaw's take on Joan of Arc

Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2018

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G.B.Shaw at his comic best for his final masterpiece. Joan was burned at the stake, by the Church as a Heretic, and 400 years later declared a Saint by the same Church. Not only an entertaining History lesson, but a brilliant account of the teenage Saint. Shaw's Ironic Irish take on the Trial is priceless. He takes on Christianity with a clear and playful eye. If you liked Pygmalian (My Fair Lady) you will love this play. Very readable.

2 people found this helpful

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Hippie3

A Shaw Classic

Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2013

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I chose to buy this so that I could provide my Joan of Arc monologue with some context. I've found it to be a very well-written play with great character dynamics and witty dialogue--always favorites of mine.

2 people found this helpful

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Ricardo Mio

One of Shaw's best, but lacking his illuminating introduction

Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2020

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In 1968, while a Freshman in college, I watched the Hallmark Hall of Fames's televised broadcast of "Saint Joan", a play by Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw. It was the first I'd heard of the play, or, for that matter, of George Bernard Shaw. Intrigued, I purchased a copy of "Saint Joan", and discovered Shaw's illuminating 54-page Introduction that's as informative and entertaining as the play itself. For some unknown reason, Shaw's introduction has been omitted in this edition of the play. (thus, my three-star recommendation). However, in this review, I have included some key portions of the introduction.

Shaw published his play in 1923, about three years after the Roman Catholic Church made Joan a saint. Shaw sums up Joan's road to sainthood thusly: "Joan of Arc, a village girl from the Vosges, was born about 1412; burnt for heresy, witchcraft, and sorcery in 1431; rehabilitated after a fashion in 1456, designated venerable in 1904; declared Blessed in 1908; and finally canonized in 1920."

And what of the voices of the three saints? Was she a sorcerous? Or was she a genius? What does Shaw say? "Joan's voices and visions have played many tricks with her reputation. They have been held to prove that she was mad, that she was a liar and imposter, that she was a sorcerer (she was burned for this), and finally that she was a saint. They do not prove any of these things; but the variety of the conclusions reached shew how little our matter-of-fact historians know about other people's minds, or even about their own. There are people in the world whose imagination is so vivid that when they have an idea it comes to them as an audible voice, sometimes uttered by a visible figure. . . . Socrates, Luther, Swedenborg, Blake saw visions and heard voices just as Saint Francis and Saint Joan did. . . . nobody disputes that the relief of Orleans, followed up by the coronation at Rheims of the Dauphin as a counterblow to the suspicions then current of the legitimacy and consequently of his title, were military and political masterstrokes that saved France. They might have been planned by Napoleon or any other illusion-proof genius. That they came to Joan as an instruction from her Counsel, as she called her visionary saints, proved nonetheless she was as able a leader of men for imagining her ideas in this way."

And what of the play? Factual or fanciful? Shaw, who researched Joan's story in France, says everything you need to know about Joan's military career and the facts concerning her trial are in the play; in other words, for the full story you need not read the actual trial and rehabilitation transcripts, as he did.

Shaw wrote the play in seven scenes. In Scene I, Joan meets Captain Robert de Baudricourt in Vaucouleurs, whom she convinces to send her to Chinon to meet the Dauphin. In Scene II, with hair cut short and dressed as a soldier, she meets the Dauphin, and convinces him to appoint her head of the French Royal Army. In Scene III, she meets Jack Dunois, who leads the French force at Orleans, and discovers the French have failed to take the English bridgehead on the River Loire, because the eastward wind is contrary, stranding their boats far from the enemy stronghold. After she arrives, she prays to her saints, and the wind begins blowing westward, allowing the stalled attack to go forward, with Joan leading the way. Scene IV takes place at an English encampment, where a nobleman (Richard de Warwick) and a chaplain (Master John de Stogumber), and a Bishop (Monseigneur Cauchon) discuss the inroads the French Army has been making on territory held by the English, now that they are led by "the Maid of Orleans", as she is being called after her smashing victory there. "Our friends here take the view that the young woman is a sorceress," says Warwick to Cauchon. "It would, I presume, be the duty of your reverend lordship to denounce her to the Inquisition, and have her burnt for that offense." Cauchon responds: "If she were captured in my diocese: yes."

Scene V takes place in the cathedral of Rheims, where Joan crowns the Dauphin as Charles VII, King of France. Afterwards, several in the King's Court complain of Joan's intrusiveness. "If only she would keep quiet," says Charles, "or go home!"

Scene VI depicts Joan's trial in Rouen, where the lead prosecuting attorney is none other than Monseigneur Cauchon, who makes good his vow to have her tried as a sorceress. On the last day of the trial, Cauchon announces that Joan has been found guilty, and will be burned at the stake that afternoon. Joan is surprised, and for the first time recants, hoping her sentence will be commuted. When it isn't she retracts her statement, and is led away by the executioner.

Why had the French King, who was nearby and owed her so much, not come to her rescue? According to Shaw, Charles VII had grown weary of Joan's overbearing assertiveness, among other of her character traits, and like so many who had encountered her, was glad to be rid of her. In the Introduction, Shaw explains: "If Joan had been malicious, selfish, cowardly or stupid, she would have been one of the most odious persons known to history instead of one of the most attractive. If she had been old enough to know the effect she was producing on the men whom she humiliated by being right when they were wrong, and had learned to flatter and manage them, she might have lived as long as Queen Elizabeth. . . . "

EPILOGUE

Scene VII is the Epilogue, and takes place in the King's Royal Chateau, 26 years after Joan's execution. Her rehabilitation has been completed, and one of the King's couriers, tells Charles, "It is solemnly declared that her judges were full of corruption, cozenage, fraud, and malice. Four falsehoods."

A storm rages outside, and as the room darkens; Charles moves to his bed, picks up a book, and is startled by an apparition that mysteriously appears at the foot of his bed. He hides under the covers, peers out and cries at the apparition, "Joan! Are you a ghost, Joan?"

It is indeed Joan, in a scene where Shaw takes some liberties with the characters, to bring the play to a satisfying close.

Joan: "Hardly even that, lad. Can a poor burnt-up lass have a ghost? I am a dream that thou art dreaming. Thou looks older, lad."

Charles: "Are you really dead?"

Joan: "As dead as ever is, laddie. I am out of the body."

Charles: "Just fancy. Did it hurt much?"

Joan: "I cannot remember very well. I think it did at first; but then it all got mixed up; and I was not in my right mind until I was free of the body. But do not thou go handling fire and thinking it will not hurt thee. How has thou been ever since?"

Charles: "Oh, not so bad. Did you know, I actually lead my army out and win battles? Down into the moat up to my waist in mud and blood. Up the ladders with the stones and hot pitch raining down. Like you."

Joan: "No! Did I make a man of thee after all, Charlie?"

Charles: "I am Charles the Victorious now. I had to be brave because you were. Agnes put a little pluck into me too."

Joan: "Agnes? Who was Agnes?"

Charles: "Agnes Sorel. A woman I fell in love with. I dream of her often. I never dreamed of you before."

Joan: "Is she dead, like me?"

Charles: "Yes. But she was not like you. She was very beautiful."

Joan (laughing heartily) Ha ha! I was no beauty: I was always a rough one: a regular soldier. I might almost as well have been a man. Pity I wasn't: I should not have bothered you all so much then. But my head was in the skies; and the glory of God was upon me; and, man or woman, I should have bothered you as long as your noses were in the mud. Now tell me what has happened since you wise men knew no better than to make a heap of cinders of me?"

This is as good a place as any to end the review. For more, read the play.

5 people found this helpful

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Agnes

A Fantastic piece for Avid readers and Actors.

Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2014

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I enjoyed how the Shaw made the decision to bring all readers up or date with a giving thorough background knowledge to enhance the reader's understanding of the historical time period. It was pertinent, in my opinion, to have written/included this prior to simply beginning the play because for those reading this, who are not familiar with these events which have tKen place, would benefit and fined it necessary to acknowledgement completely in order to appreciate the work fully.

2 people found this helpful

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BeagleLover

Excellent Service

Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2020

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Quality book, great price and fast shipping in these quarantine days! Thank you!

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crazy planter101

Great buy

Reviewed in India on August 4, 2021

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the book itself is amazing..a recommend reading for anyone interested in GBS..the quality of the book in terms of print n font size is super cool and easy to read. after having so much issues with book orders from other sellers lately, i must say Indus international is trustworthy.

Mr. Jean Claude Wagner

Déception de ne pas y trouver la préface en anglais

Reviewed in France on October 4, 2019

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J'ai été déçu de trouver le texte de cette pièce sans la préface. Or c'est celle-ci que j'attendais : tout est dedans avec une vision extraordinairement percutante, tellement percutante qu'elle est inséparable de la pièce. Or les traductions en français dont je dispose sont assez médiocres, d'où ma déception de ne pas l'avoir en anglais.

One person found this helpful

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Ger

Drama for all ages

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 14, 2012

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We all know the story of Saint Joan. Joan a young French country girl finds herself caught up in a France versus England political struggle. She has nothing to recommend her for the task, but Shaw portrays her there among her comrades as fearless, confident, inspired. And she is And like so many visionaries down the centuries she pays the supreme price.
What I love more than the text, and I love the text - brisk, upbeat, re-captuing the various personalities so accurately - what I love more is Shaw's Preface. Yes, it is long, many paragraphs, and I suppose out of proportion to the length of the text of the play but it contains so much wisdom. I'll take one example. He speaks of the VISIONARY and sees the visionary as one who sees further, probes deeper and who DOES SOMETHING ABOUT IT. Oh yes, we all dream dreams, I can come up with solutions to several of the world's problems, but I am not prepared to put my life on the line. This is only one example but so relevant in today's world of self-glorification.
The PLAY presents a delightful Jaon, the Preface invites us to ponder her story.

3 people found this helpful

Stephen Bentley

GBS. Magnificent Play.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 3, 2022

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Really well edited. I think very well produced paperback version of the script. He is little read or performed now, more's the pity, the nearest the great tradition of UK and Irish drama comes to Brecht. He was enormously influential on contemporary English Language dramatists.

Amazon Customer

Good quality

Reviewed in India on October 18, 2020

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book cover quality was good

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Saint Joan (New Mermaids) Paperback – August 29, 2008

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