General Gordon by George MacDonald
"General Gordon" is a novel by George MacDonald that tells the story of General Charles Gordon and his military campaigns in Africa during the late 19th century. The book follows Gordon's life from his early days as an officer in the British Army to his eventual death at the hands of Sudanese rebels in Khartoum. Along the way, MacDonald explores themes of heroism, sacrifice, and the nature of warfare.
By George MacDonald · First published 1863 · Genre: Poetry, Religious, Historical · 344 words
First lines
I. Victorious through failure! faithful Lord, Who for twelve angel legions wouldst not pray From thine own country of eternal day, To shield thee from the lanterned traitor horde, Making thy one rash servant sheathe his sword! -- Our long retarded legions, on their way, Toiling through sands, and shouldering Nile's down-sway, To reach thy soldier, keeping at thy word, Thou sawest foiled -- but glorifiedst him, Over ten cities giving him thy rule! We will not mourn a star that grew not dim, A soldier-child of God gone home from school! A dregless cup, with life brimmed, he did quaff, And quaffs it now with Christ's imperial staff!
What this Textopian page supports
General Gordon is listed on Textopian as a novel by George MacDonald, dated 1863 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: George MacDonald
- Date: 1863 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Religious, Historical, Biographical, Inspirational
- Length: 344 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse form, with a focus on rhythm and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Religious — The themes revolve around faith, divine intervention, and spiritual journey, indicating a religious genre.
- Historical — References to historical figures and events suggest a connection to historical themes.
- Biographical — The focus on a specific individual's life and actions implies a biographical element.
Tags
biography · historical · military · leadership · 19th century · British history · colonialism · heroism · adventure · exploration · Africa · religion