Unique New Joan of Arc Book Reveals French Royal Atrocities
Mike MacCarthy Releases New Novel Based on 20 Years of Meticulous Research: Maiden General: How 17-year-old Joan of Arc Saved France at Orléans—A True Story
Published by Outskirts Press
July 10, 2016 – Denver, CO and San Diego, CA – Outskirts Press today announced the highly anticipated release of Maiden General: How 17-year-old Joan of Arc Saved France at Orléans—A True Story. This historical novel is unique because author Mike MacCarthy presents an in-depth yet crisp, factual, and engaging narrative of the teenage saint’s extraordinary early public life. It has also been named a finalist in the historical fiction category of the 2016 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.
The year is 1429 and the English have been attempting to invade and annex France for 92 years Joan, a quiet and pious farm girl runs away from home in order to attempt an impossible mission for God—have herself appointed by the bumbling crown prince—Charles VII—a field general to lead her country to victory over the English. Although small in stature, of low birth, illiterate, and with no knowledge of war or politics, she says “yes” to God.
Maiden General then chronicles Joan’s every perilous moment through enemy-held territory along 350 miles of freezing winter rain en route to Chinon Castle. There Charles VII has withdrawn, ready to flee the country if Orléans falls. Although welcomed by him Joan must next endure a royal sexual molestation and the venom of veteran French generals with the announcement of her elevation to knighthood. Maiden General then takes readers through the weeklong Battle of Orléans—Joan’s failures, her wounds, her indomitable courage, and finally her impossible and miraculous victory.
Unlike most 20th and 21st century heroes de jour, Joan stands as someone all people can admire and look up to. This naïve young woman became a truth-telling ambassador for the power of faith and prayer. She was also the only person in recorded history to lead the entire military forces of a nation into battle at age 17. Winston Churchill said it best in his History of the English-Speaking People: “Joan was a being so uplifted from the ordinary run of mankind that she finds no equal in a thousand years.” He concluded that her story would be beyond belief if it were not, in fact, true.
At 288 pages, Maiden General: How 17-year-old Joan of Arc Saved France at Orléans—A True Story is available online at www.mikemaccarthy.com. Published by Outskirts Press, it is also available through Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
About the Author: In 1990, Mike MacCarthy co-founded San Diego Writers Monthly magazine, which led to his collaboration on 11 published books. He fell in love with Joan of Arc in the hospital at age nine and has since spent so much time reading, writing, and speaking about her that his wife of 35 years lovingly calls Joan “the other woman” in his life.
Mr. MacCarthy can be reached for interviews at mmwrites@san.rr.com or (858) 715-9831.