Great Women Writers: The Bronte Sisters

Could a nineteen-year-old girl change the course of history simply by faith? From ordinary farm girl to extraordinary hero, the life of Joan of Arc was one of conviction and courage. Fifteenth-century France was devastated by an ongoing war in which women did not fight. Yet Joan heeded the counsel of angels and transformed into a military leader, something her country needed but many feared. In this BYUtv original special, discover the stalwart spirit, military prowess, and enduring influence of Joan of Arc.

This installment of the Great Women Writers series salutes English author Jane Austen (1775-1817) by blending passages from her books with rare archival photographs and authentic period imagery. Though they make wonderful fodder for modern period dramas, Austen's novels saw only moderate success in her lifetime. Nevertheless, she grew to become one of the most celebrated female writers of all time.

Frida Kahlo began to paint in 1925 while recovering from a streetcar accident that left her permanently disabled. Many of her 200 paintings directly relate to her experiences with physical pain. They also chronicle her turbulent relationship with artist Diego Rivera. Today Kahlo's work is critically and monetarily as prized as that of her male peers, sometimes more so.