The story of Joan of Arc has passed from history into legend, in the process losing many of the details that made her so fascinating. Nancy Goldstone's fine new book is a dual biography of Joan and of the woman who made her career possible: Yolande of Aragon, Queen of Sicily.Fifteenth century France was a land in turmoil. Riven by conflict with England and internecine strife within its borders, France by the late 1420s was on the verge of defeat. At that moment a French peasant girl appeared out of nowhere and convinced the uncrowned King of France to allow her to lead his armies. Winning victory after victory, Joan revived the French fighting spirit that enabled the kingdom to eventually defeat the English and put an end to the long running civil wars, even though she herself was captured and executed only a year or so after her first battle. That's the story that has come down to us over the centuries. Goldstone shows that the story is true, but reveals unexpected dimensions behind it that eliminate some of the more fantastical elements but maintain and enhance the drama.Yolande of Aragon is revealed by Goldstone to have been one of the prime movers behind the career of Joan and the development of France during the fifteenth century. Her long and active life amidst the extraordinarily complex dynastic politics of the period makes for fascinating reading. Goldstone makes the point that while women seemed to live life off stage, they nevertheless often played important roles through their influence on the men who were their sons, husbands, and fathers. Yolande's career definitely proves the point, as does the better known but shorter one of Joan of Arc. Goldstone's ability to tell a dramatic story will ensure that Yolande's life, as well as those of the other women in this story, will no longer go unnoticed.