You might find Randall Knoper's new book, Acing Naturally, areiew of which
will be online here in a day or so, very interesting.  In it, Knopwer
spends mcuh time n Joan of Arc as a book that resolves a number of issues
for Twain
regarding reprentation, dramatic realism, and the merging of high and
popular cultures.
This discussion is particuallry relevant to tyour comments,
and I agree with you, Joan is a very likeable book that deserves more credit
than it
typcially gets.