Out of the Wings

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Contra valor no hay desdicha (c.1620-1635)

Titles
English title: Fortune favours the brave
Date written: from c. 1620 to c. 1635
First publication date: 1638
First production date: 1636
Title information

Literal translation: 'No misfortune shall prevail against valour'.

Pitch

Ciro, a young peasant lad, realizes his destiny upon discovering that he is the rightful heir to the throne. He rises up against his tyrannical grandfather, king Astiages, valiantly overcoming numerous perils and obstacles to finally take the crown. Based on the early life of Cyrus the Great, this play is full of action, adventure and inspiration with the enduring message that ‘fortune favours the brave’.

Synopsis

In the opening scene of 'Contra valor no hay desdicha', Ciro [Cyrus] is introduced as the son of Mitridates the peasant, and we learn that he has a thirst for knowledge that his father ... (Read more...)

Sources

For the main plot of 'Contra valor no hay desdicha' Lope used accounts of the early life of King Cyrus the Great written by the Greek Herodotus in his Histories (c. 450-420 BC) and by ... (Read more...)

Further information

There is only one record of this play being staged, in the Buen Retiro palace in 1636.

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Entry submitted by NaomiWalker on 14 May 2012 and last updated by Kathleen Jeffs on 22 May 2012

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