From the author of the acclaimed She-Wolves; the complex; surprising; and engaging story of one of the most remarkable women of the medieval world—as never told before.Helen Castor tells afresh the gripping story of the peasant girl from Domremy who hears voices from God; leads the French army to victory; is burned at the stake for heresy; and eventually becomes a saint. But unlike the traditional narrative; a story already shaped by the knowledge of what Joan would become and told in hindsight; Castor’s Joan of Arc: A History takes us back to fifteenth century France and tells the story forwards. Instead of an icon; she gives us a living; breathing woman confronting the challenges of faith and doubt; a roaring girl who; in fighting the English; was also taking sides in a bloody civil war. We meet this extraordinary girl amid the tumultuous events of her extraordinary world where no one—not Joan herself; nor the people around her—princes; bishops; soldiers; or peasants—knew what would happen next.Adding complexity; depth; and fresh insight into Joan’s life; and placing her actions in the context of the larger political and religious conflicts of fifteenth century France; Joan of Arc: A History is history at its finest and a surprising new portrait of this remarkable woman.Joan of Arc: A History features an 8-page color insert.
#775 in Books Margot Lee Shetterly 2016-12-06 2016-12-06Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x .83 x 5.31l; .0 #File Name: 0062363603368 pagesThe #1 New York Times bestseller The phenomenal true story of the black female mathematicians at NASA whose calculations helped fuel some of America's greatest achievements in space. Soon to be a major motion picture starring Taraji P. Henson; Octavia Spencer; Janelle Monae; Kirsten Dunst; and Kevin Costner.
Review
1042 of 1079 people found the following review helpful. This is a great history book; not historical fictionBy JDMuch hullabaloo has appeared in social media based on the release of the preview for the movie based on this book. The movie will be historical fiction; the book is not. The book is as much about the advances and science done at NACA and NASA as it is about the black women who were an integral part of this piece of history. It is an easy reading book and most readers will find it an interesting read as well.I was an officer in the Air Force for 20 years; working in the missile and space industry. I also lived in Hampton; VA; for 6 years growing up. I feel like the author has given me back a piece of my history that I never knew was missing. I've always known that there are women who went before; upon whose shoulders I stand; but it is incredible to add a deeper understanding of what that meant and to know their names.Thank you; Margot Lee Shetterly; for persevering and doing the work to bring this history to light in a way that makes it accessible.413 of 437 people found the following review helpful. Enjoy The Pie!By CustomerMy comments are somewhat bias since Katherine Johnson is my aunt. I have seen the movie twice and read the book. My preference is the book mostly because of the additional information provided about Aunt Katherine. Many movie goers who only see the movie will miss out on a number of opportunities to see more realistically Aunt Katherine's nature; attitudes; and life's perspectives on work; family; and race. The movie is done very well and I commend all those involved in its production including the talented stars. It is a case of getting one slice of pie when you could get two slices. I suggest you eat WELL! ATBroady363 of 391 people found the following review helpful. Masterful; well-written; and leaves you wanting more!By Girl Friday ReaderHidden Figures has garnered much attention for being the heretofore forgotten story of the African-American women who helped build NASA (or to be more exact; the NASA field center at Langley). The media has boiled the tale of these women down to the oft-used cliche "heroes"; Shetterley's narrative digs beyond that.Sure; Katherine Johnson; Dorothy Vaughan; Mary Jackson; et al are amazing; inspiring; and strong; but their own modesty over their roles in NACA/NASA history is telling: like many black pioneers of the Jim Crow era; they didn't step up for the attention or accolades. They stepped up to be "the first" in order to pave the way for those who would come behind them.Shetterley deftly reveals these cross-generational ties at Langley; as well as how for African-Americans; the professional is often the personal when it came to representation and community. The portions of the book that were the most fascinating to me were those pertaining to the links forged by the black community in the Southern Virginia area; and how they intersected with employment and residency in Hampton as the 20th century progressed.Shetterley's prose shined the best on the minutia of the women's lives; but the parts about NACA/NASA were just as interesting--and Shetterley's explanations of the mathematics and aeronautics is masterful. It was never pedantic; yet never overly simplified. As I reached the end; I was disappointed there weren't more pages; but also even hungrier for more stories about the intersection of race; gender; and science!Get this book! It is an excellent companion to Nathalia Holt's Rise of the Rocket Girls and Lily Koppel's The Astronaut Wives Club; for a comparison of the different experiences of women in the Space Race.
