The Man of Destiny
The Man of Destiny is a play by George Bernard Shaw that tells the story of Napoleon Bonaparte's rise to power in France. The play explores themes of ambition, power, and leadership, as well as the complexities of human nature. It is considered one of Shaw's most important works and has been widely performed and studied since its publication in 1897.
By George Bernard Shaw · First published 1897 · Genre: Drama, Comedy, Historical Fiction · 20,300 words
First lines
The twelfth of May, 1796, in north Italy, at Tavazzano, on the road from Lodi to Milan. The afternoon sun is blazing serenely over the plains of Lombardy, treating the Alps with respect and the anthills with indulgence, not incommoded by the basking of the swine and oxen in the villages nor hurt by its cool reception in the churches, but fiercely disdainful of two hordes of mischievous insects which are the French and Austrian armies. Two days before, at Lodi, the Austrians tried to prevent the French from crossing the river by the narrow bridge there; but the French, commanded by a general aged 27, Napoleon Bonaparte, who does not understand the art of war, rushed the fireswept bridge, supported by a tremendous cannonade in which the young general assisted with his own hands.
What this Textopian page supports
The Man of Destiny is listed on Textopian as a play by George Bernard Shaw, dated 1897 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Play
- Author: George Bernard Shaw
- Date: 1897 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Drama, Comedy, Historical Fiction, Satire
- Length: 20,300 words
- Structure: 1 section, 495 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Genres
- Drama — The work is a play, characterized by its dramatic dialogue and theatrical setting.
- Comedy — The play incorporates elements of humor and wit, typical of comedic genre.
- Historical Fiction — The narrative is set in a historical context, involving real historical figures and events.
- Satire — The play uses satire to critique social and political norms of the time.
Tags
destiny · fate · philosophy · comedy · drama · politics · identity · conflict · character study · social commentary · human nature · irony