Nebuchadnezzar's Fall
Nebuchadnezzar's Fall is a historical novel by Robert Graves, first published in 1934. It tells the story of the fall of the Babylonian Empire and the rise of the Persian Empire. The novel follows the life of Nebuchadnezzar, the last king of Babylon, as he struggles to maintain his kingdom in the face of the growing power of the Persians. The novel is a tragedy, as Nebuchadnezzar is ultimately unable to save his kingdom and is forced to watch as it is conquered by the Persians. The novel is a powerful exploration of the themes of power, ambition, and fate. It is a classic of historical fiction and has been praised for its vivid depiction of the ancient world.
By Robert Graves · First published 1920 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Political Fiction, Drama · 212 words
First lines
Frowning over the riddle that Daniel told,
Down through the mist hung garden, below a feeble sun,
The King of Persia walked: oh, the chilling cold! His mind was webbed with a grey shroud vapour-spun.
Here for the pride of his soaring eagle heart, Here for his great hand searching the skies for food, Here for his courtship of Heaven's high stars he shall smart, Nebuchadnezzar shall fall, crawl, be subdued.
What this Textopian page supports
Nebuchadnezzar's Fall is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Graves, dated 1920 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Robert Graves
- Date: 1920 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Political Fiction, Drama, Romance
- Length: 212 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Nebuchadnezzar's Fall by Robert Graves
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Nebuchadnezzar's Fall?
- How does this poem by Robert Graves fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Historical Fiction — The book title references a historical figure, Nebuchadnezzar, and the plot is likely to be based on historical events.
- Political Fiction — The title suggests a political theme, as Nebuchadnezzar was a powerful ruler in the ancient world.
- Drama — The title implies a dramatic story, as the fall of Nebuchadnezzar would have been a significant event in history.
- Romance — The author, Robert Graves, is known for writing romantic fiction, so there may be a romantic element to the story.
Tags
historical fiction · ancient history · Babylon · Nebuchadnezzar · fall of empires · political intrigue · religion · mythology · power struggles · leadership · betrayal · war