num_pages: 577
description: Handsome, ambitious Julien Sorel is determined to rise above his humble provincial origins. Soon realizing that success can only be achieved by adopting the subtle code of hypocrisy by which society operates, he begins to achieve advancement through deceit and self-interest. His triumphant career takes him into the heart of glamorous Parisian society, along the way conquering the gentle, married Madame de Rênal, and the haughty Mathilde. But then Julien commits an unexpected, devastating crime - and brings about his own downfall. The Red and the Black is a lively, satirical portrayal of French society after Waterloo, riddled with corruption, greed, and ennui, and Julien - the cold exploiter whose Machiavellian campaign is undercut by his own emotions - is one of the most intriguing characters in European literature.Roger Gard's fine translation remains faithful to the natural, conversational tone of the original, while his introduction elucidates the complexities of Julien's character. This edition also contains a chronology, further reading and an appendix on Stendhal's use of epigraphs.
language: English
title: The Red and the Black
titlecomplete: The Red and the Black
characters: Pirard, Mathilde de la Mole, Elisa, Valenod, Fouqué, Marquis de la Mole, Madame de Rênal, Julien Sorel, Chélan
genres: Historical Fiction, French Literature, Novels, Literature, Classic Literature, Classics, Romance, Fiction, 19th Century, France
ratings_count: 72506
places: Paris, Verrières, Paris, Besançon, France
publisher: Penguin Classics