Joan of Arc by Mark Twain first edition 1896

London: Chatto & Windus (1896)
 
8vo; in the publisher’s beautiful blind stamped and patterned, cloth boards, with a picture of Joan in black and gilt, complete with a scroll by her feet, that is presenting the title of the book, along with gilt lettering to the spine; with lovely original patterned Victorian end papers, and a frontispiece of Joan entitled the Maid of Orleans, the book has a further 11 illustrations that are all present as called for; pp xvi, 435+1, along with a 32 page catalogue at the back dated March 1896 denoting it as a first issue copy; the book is in fantastic condition with only light rubbing to corner, a toned spine and a split that is exposing the webbing of around 3-4cm of the back board, otherwise it is excellent, very good or better, and certainly better than is usually seen.
 
Mark Twain wrote this work of fiction, being an account of the life of Joan of Arc, as if it’s a translation of first-hand recollections about her, by an imaginary translator and narrator called ‘Sieur Louis de Conte’ (Who happens to sport the same initials as Mark Twain’s real name, Samuel Langhorne Clemens).
 
His fictional memoirs first hit the American reading public in 1895 through Harpers Magazine, in serial form with the book format being published a year later by Harpers in the US and this first British edition by Chatto & Windus. His narrator claims to have been with Joan of Arc throughout, and it is written as if he is recollection her life right up to her trial and martyrdom. It is a difficult title to find in such nice condition.