A fairly brief (244pp incl copious endnotes) biography focusing on the military side of Joan's career. As biographers not uncommonly do, DeVries openly sympathizes with his subject and tends to interpret events in the most flattering light possible for her. He thinks very highly of her tactical acumen, which one feels is not fully borne out by the actual narrative - the impression I get, at any rate, is that her effectiveness as a commander (which was undeniably considerable) was more due to charisma and contagious confidence than clever stratagems. Her favourite tactic was a direct assault, after all.

Don't let that discourage you from picking up the book however. DeVries's sympathies are clear enough, but he explains how he arrives at his interpretations, sometimes notes alternative ones, and generally leaves you well able to arrive at your own. The notes and bibliography are extensive (although for obvious reasons much of the relevant literature is in French), leaving those so inclined with every opportunity to dig deeper that could be asked for.

Having some basic background knowledge of the Hundred Years War helps, but it should be accessible to almost anybody.