The Lark

by Jean Anouilh and adapted by Lillian Hellman Jean Anouilh

Book Overview

To the great lords of her time as well as the politicians of the Church expediency was God. So the Maid had to die. So to Warwick and Cauchon, her life has the'somewhat artificial, and certainly impersonal, quality of a play. Short scenes from it are played out during the trial as they struggle to turn her simplicity into heresy. But it is the glory of her life rather than the tragedy that is the triumphant climax of the play.5 women, 13 men

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0573012253
• ISBN13: 9780573012259
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: Samuel French Ltd
• Length: 82 Pages
• Weight: 0.23 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

The Must be Seen for the Full Impact

Although, I haven't actually read the play, I did just see it performed in Stratford, Ontario, at their annual Stratford Festival, with Amanda Plummer in the starring role. I can only say it was gripping and extremely well done, and Amanda Plummer (along with other Canadian big actor Martha Henry) was excellent. The playwright may be writing about a 15th Century young woman, but watching it on stage in today's political and historical circumstances, it sheds a whole different light. I encourage any reader of the play to consider various other historical periods and how they might apply to the themes of this play. This play, to me, uses Joan of Arc, as the storyline, but it is more about man's contradictory nature (among other themes). This Stratford director also set the costumes/set design during WWII, and watching it w/the Nazi/Concentration Camp overtones really made us think. It made for great dialogue with other theater-goers after the show. Definitely a must-see!

The Best Dramatization of the Story of Joan of Arc

I saw this play many, many years ago on television, of all things! This was when TV was fairly new, and they really did know how to present fine drama to a fare-thee-well back then. I believe this presentation of Jean Anouilh's THE LARK was live, although I'm not sure. It starred Julie Harris. I'll never forget it. I was very small, and what I didn't understand my family explained to me.I say I'll never forget it, but, now in my 50s, I can't remember a lot of the details. What I can't forget is how terribly powerful the play was, how gripping, how beautifully written, and what a spectacular performance Julie Harris gave. I don't think anyone can out-do her Joan of Arc (or her Nora of A DOLL'S HOUSE, for that matter--also performed on TV). To the best of my recollection, the play focuses on the trial of Joan of Arc for heresy, and the final verdict, and her execution. What a rare and special treat that was, even to a small child. and a few years later, as I mentioned above, the rendition of A DOLL'S HOUSE, with Julie Harris's incomparable performance, as well as Christopher Plummer's--I have not forgotten that, either.Do read Jean Anouilh's THE LARK.

C'est MAGNIFIQUE!

I had to read this book for French class and found it to be the best French book I'd ever read. The play is wonderful with its use of flashbacks and the ending is just wonderful even though its not how it was in history. It makes the whole story seem hopeful, as it should be and not sad, which is how most people perceive the story of Jeanne d'Arc. I highly recommend this book!

Quotable Quotes

This was a very excellent book! It is about Joan of Arc, told in dialogue as a character reenactment. The book is filled with passages of great insight spouted by this young girl while she is on trial for heresy. She says much concerning religion and God and also of fear and loyalty. There is some humor as well. The end, although not completely historically accurate, is made so on purpose, demonstrating the author's existentialist beliefs. He believes it is better to die for one's cause than live without a cause.