Voices - by David Elliott

About the Book

Bestselling author Elliott ("In the Wild") explores how Joan of Arc changed the course of history and remains a figure of fascination centuries after her extraordinary life and death in this evocative novel that gives her the "Hamilton" treatment.

Book Synopsis

"Stunning . . . elegant . . . arresting . . . supple and harrowing." - The Wall Street Journal

★"An innovative, entrancing account of a popular figure that will appeal to fans of verse, history, and biography." - Kirkus, starred review

In poems that surprise and move readers, bestselling author David Elliott explores how Joan of Arc changed the course of history and remains a figure of fascination centuries after her extraordinary life and death.

Told through medieval poetic forms and in the voices of the people and objects in Joan of Arc's life, (including her family and even the trees, clothes, cows, and candles of her childhood), Voices offers an unforgettable perspective on an extraordinary young woman. Along the way it explores timely issues such as gender, misogyny, and the peril of speaking truth to power. Before Joan of Arc became a saint, she was a girl inspired. It is that girl we come to know in Voices.

Review Quotes

Praise for Voices: "With stunning lyricism, these poems fashion an enlivened, gripping narrative that addresses themes of gender identity, class and vocation, and innocence and culpability, bringing fresh nuance to an oft-told story." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Ethereal, wondering, and poignant. An innovative, entrancing account of a popular figure that will appeal to fans of verse, history, and biography." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Elliot delivers another hit. [Voices] showcases a gorgeous storytelling style that flows in an effortless fashion. . . . A glorious tribute to a woman who dared, defied, and defended her truth. A must-have." -- School Library Journal (starred review)

"Joan's thoughts are almost conversational, in simple left-justified verse with rhyme skillfully embedded within lines. . . . [A] creative historical account of a young woman who answered a norm-shattering higher call." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)

"An elegant, spirited introduction to classical poetry and to a woman fighting not just for a cause but for a place in a world that undervalued her voice." -- Booklist

"Stunning . . . . elegant . . . . arresting . . . . supple and harrowing." -- Wall Street Journal

About the Author

David Elliott is a NYT bestselling author whose books include Bull, And Here's to You!, The Evangeline Mudd books, In the Past, This Orq. books, and Baabwaa and Wooliam. Born in Ohio, David has worked as a singer, a cucumber washer, and a popsicle stick maker. He lives with his wife and a three-footed dog in New Hampshire. www.davidelliottbooks.com