num_pages: 464
description: Stendhal's Le Rouge et le Noir (The Red and the Black) is a classic novel that was very important to me in early formation of directions in life. I found I could identify quite strongly with Julien Sorel, who wanted a better life, a life of meaning and importance, and was torn about which direction in which to go. The Red (symbolising the church, the scarlet of cardinal's robes) and the Black (symbolising the military, the uniform, etc.) were both options held out to me early; in fact, I rejected both for a while, but have found myself drawn back in the red direction. The story is one of coming of age as a bookish fellow in a working-class family, then ambition (but not overpowering ambition; in fact, Julien's father wishes he had more), then shifting careers (rare in an era and country where one's path is usually set for life early; however, this was the post-revolution era in France, in which some things were giving way, some more than others, it seems). Julien is pulled by events
language: English
title: The Red and the Black
titlecomplete: The Red and the Black
characters: Marquis de la Mole, Fouqué, Elisa, Julien Sorel, Chélan, Pirard, Valenod, Madame de Rênal, Mathilde de la Mole
genres: Literature, Novels, French Literature, 19th Century, Romance, Classics, Classic Literature, Historical Fiction, Fiction, France
ratings_count: 72566
places: Verrières, Paris, Besançon, Paris, France
publisher: Bantam Classics