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Saint Joan is a play by George Bernard Shaw. First staged in 1923, it is a dramatization of the life of 15th-century French military icon and religious martyr Joan of Arc, based on the historical records of her trial in 1431. The published version of the play included a lengthy preface by the author. Shaw was inspired in writing the play by the Catholic church's 1920 decision to canonize Joan of Arc, an event which occurred several years after the premiere of his most famous play, Pygmalion; at the time, Shaw's career was in a slump and his work was being poorly received by critics. Saint Joan has since become one of Shaw's most popular plays; a film adaptation starring Jean Seberg was produced in 1957, and the play continues to be staged today. It was the recipient of a 1993 Tony Award for Best Revival.
