"People write biographies today without the faintest idea that great spiritual powers are at work in human history." --Rudolf Steiner

Almost six centuries have passed since the death of Joan of Arc, but an enduring fascination with her life continues to generate new studies, adding to the huge number of books and articles on her life. Those by reputable historians and biographers have recounted the many known facts, based mostly on the surviving fifteenth-century documents. Whereas historians have firmly established Joan's central role in expelling the English from French soil, the real mystery of her achievements remains unexplained. Moreover, Joan Edmunds contends that this key mystery cannot be resolved by relying solely on orthodox historical methods.

Basing her work on Rudolf Steiner's spiritual-scientific findings--which first revealed the true significance of Joan's mission--Edmunds explores the mystery of the Maid of Orleans' unique personality. She shows how, while under the guidance and direction of the Archangel Michael, and through her ultimate martyrdom, Joan of Arc was instrumental in bringing to birth the forces needed for the next vital step in human spiritual development--the emergence of the consciousness soul.