The Maid and the Queen

The Secret History of Joan of Arc—With a New Foreword by the Author

Nancy Goldstone

The dramatic life of Joan of Arc and the untold story of the extraordinary queen who was her champion.

With a new forewoard by the author

Politically astute, ambitious, and beautiful, Yolande of Aragon, queen of Sicily, was one of the most powerful women of the Middle Ages. Caught in the complex dynastic battle of the Hundred Years War, Yolande championed the dauphin's cause against the forces of England and Burgundy, drawing on her savvy, her statecraft, and her intimate network of spies. But the enemy seemed invincible.

Just as French hopes dimmed, an astonishingly courageous young woman named Joan of Arc arrived from the farthest recesses of the kingdom, claiming she carried a divine message-a message that would change the course of history and ultimately lead to the coronation of Charles VII and the triumph of France.

Now, more than six hundred years after the birth of Joan of Arc, this updated edition of The Maid and the Queen explores the relationship between these two remarkable women, and deepens our understanding of this dramatic period in history. How did an illiterate peasant girl gain access to the future king of France, earn his trust, and ultimately lead his forces into battle? Was it only the hand of God that moved Joan of Arc—or was it also Yolande of Aragon?

Nancy Goldstone is the author of seven previous books, including In the Shadow of the Empress,Daughters of the Winter Queen,The Rival Queens,The Maid and the Queen,Four Queens, and The Lady Queen. She has also coauthored six books with her husband, Lawrence Goldstone. She lives in Del Mar, California.

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Endorsements & Reviews

"With compelling storytelling, Goldstone colorfully weaves together the tales of these two women—one rich, one poor; one educated, one illiterate; one worldly, one simple—whose powerful personalities and deep allegiance to France helped shape the country’s future.” Publishers Weekly

“Goldstone presents this dual biography of two fascinating medieval women with the descriptive energy of a novel.” USA Today

“Attention, ‘Game of Thrones’ fans: The most enjoyably sensational aspects of medieval politics—double-crosses, ambushes, bizarre personal obsessions, lunacy and naked self-interest—are in abundant evidence in Nancy Goldstone’s The Maid and the Queen. Goldstone’s delivery is vigorous and witty.” Laura Miller, Salon.com