Eleanor Mercein Kelly's Why Joan? isn't your typical Joan of Arc story. Published in 1930, it sidesteps the grand spectacle of battles and crowns to ask a quieter, more haunting question from the sidelines.

The Story

The book is framed as the memories of Simone, a woman looking back on her childhood in Domrémy with her friend, Joan. We see Joan not as the armored saint from paintings, but as a puzzling, fiercely devout girl who hears voices and feels a destiny Simone can't grasp. The narrative follows their bond as Joan's conviction grows, pulling her away from their simple village life and toward the Dauphin and war. Simone is our anchor—a witness full of love, confusion, and dread. We experience the epic events of Joan's rise and capture through Simone's anxious letters and recollections, feeling the distance grow between the friend she knew and the icon the world created.

Why You Should Read It

What grabbed me was the brilliant choice of perspective. History shows us Joan the hero. Kelly shows us Joan the friend, the odd neighbor, the worry. Through Simone's eyes, Joan's faith feels both magnificent and terrifying. You're not asked to debate whether her voices were real; you're asked to feel what it's like to love someone who lives by them completely. Simone's own journey is just as compelling. Her story is about ordinary courage—the courage to support, to question, to mourn, and to keep living when someone else's story becomes a legend. It makes a familiar historical moment feel immediate and surprisingly emotional.

Final Verdict

This book is perfect for readers who love historical fiction that focuses on the people in the shadows of great events. If you enjoyed the personal angles in books like The Book of Longings or Hamnet, you'll appreciate Kelly's approach. It's also a great pick for anyone interested in complex female friendships and stories about belief. Fair warning: it's from 1930, so the prose has a slightly older rhythm, but Simone's voice feels timeless in its honesty. Don't come for battle strategies; come for a moving, thoughtful portrait of loyalty and loss that just happens to be about one of history's most famous figures.