Mark Twain's work on Joan of Arc is titled in full Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, the Sieur Louis de Conte who is identified further as Joan's page and secretary.

Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, by the Sieur Louis de Conte is an 1896 novel by Mark Twain which recounts the life of Joan of Arc. It is Twain's last completed novel, published when he was 61 years old.The novel is presented as a translation by "Jean Francois Alden" of memoirs by Louis de Conte, a fictionalized version of Joan of Arc's page Louis de Contes. The novel is divided into three sections according to Joan of Arc's development: a youth in Domrémy, a commander of the army of Charles VII of France, and a defendant at trial in Rouen.The novel was first published as a serialization in Harper's Magazine beginning in April 1895. Twain was aware of his reputation as a comic writer and he asked that each installment appear anonymously so that readers would treat it seriously. Regardless, his authorship soon became known, and Harper and Brothers published the book edition with his name in May 1896.

Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc: Regarded by many as the most luminous example of Mark Twain's work, this fictional biography of Joan of Arc was purportedly written by Joan's page and secretary - Sieur Louis de Conté. (Twain's alter ego even shared the author's same initials - S. L. C.) Told from the viewpoint of this lifelong friend, the historical novel is a panorama of stirring scenes and marvel of pageantry - from Joan's early childhood in Domremy and her touching story of the voices, to the fight for Orleans, the taking of Tourelles and Jargeau, and the splendid march to Rheims.

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Sometime around 1412, Joan of Arc was born in Domremy, France. It was a small village, and Joan grew up in a peasant family. Although she was known for her skill and her hard work, she seemed fairly ordinary except for her extreme piousness. In 1425, around age 13, Joan started hearing "voices" which she claimed were the voices of Saint Catherine, Saint Margaret, and Saint Michael. She said these voices commanded her to aid the Dauphin, Charles, in his fight against England and Burgundy, and to see him crowned as the King of France at Reims. Reims was the traditional location where French kings were crowned. But because Reims was in English hands, Charles had not been able to hold a coronation ceremony yet, though his father had been dead for years.When Joan went to Vaucouleurs to offer her aid, she was initially laughed away. In February of 1429, however, she was granted an audience with the Dauphin. He was superstitious and in dire straits in his battle against the English and Burgundians, so he sent her with a contingent of troops to aid in the Siege of Orleans, a long stalemate in which the English had surrounded the city of Orleans with fortresses. Joan followed sudden commands from her voices and stumbled upon a battle between English and French forces. Rallying the French troops, she drove the English out of fort after fort, decisively ending the siege and earning herself popularity throughout France as the miraculous "Maid of Orleans."

The dauphin, it has been said, was tiring of war. He could not get his countrymen together. His army was demoralized after suffering many losses. The strategic city of orléans had been under siege for months. The french garrison inside it was being starved out by a chain of english fortresses surrounding it on three sides, and the prospects of sending successful reinforcements to break the siege seemed poor. Inside you'll read about France to be restored to its glory Joan of arc - the french victory 1429-1453 Joan of arc - the loire valley battles The coronation of charles and its aftermath The brutal trial The exoneration of joan of arc Now, eighteen years later, her faithful friend has decided to remove the shroud of mysticism which has surrounded joan for too long to show the world who she really was. In his book, the scribe seeks to take the first steps to set to rights the wrongs which were perpetrated against an innocent woman by men who desperately gambled her life away to secure their own lives. This is the first story in a cycle of books about the greatest women in history. Their histories are utterly fascinating and i am always more than a little disappointed about saying goodbye to them.

A lengthy historical novel written because Joan of Arc was Clemens' favorite historical character. He stated: "It means more to me than anything I have ever undertaken." Clemens devoted twelve years to researching and writing this novel. Harper's Magazine serialized it first in three monthly installments (April 1895-April 1896) without his name. He used the pseudonym Sieur Louis de Conte to prevent the work's not being taken seriously under his own name, while the name of the translator, Jean Francois Alden, is referred to as a pun on John Alden. This edition contains many of the fine drawings that had appeared in the periodical. (From "A Centennial For Tom Sawyer")