Penguin Classics: The Red And The Black

I have been trying to catch up on my reading of literary classics, so I recently tackled Stendhal’s great novel The Red and the Black. The handsome and intelligent Julian Sorel is one of the greatest characters in fiction. He is the arrogant peasant intellectual that upsets high society in the provinces and Paris as well. Stendhal moves back and forth from different points of view to give a varied picture of characters and event throughout the novel. His fortunes change once he is taken into the de Renal household to become a live in tutor of the mayor’s children. He is successful in that he is praised for his knowledge and he seduces the mayor’s wife.  Ina surprising turn of event he is rewarded for this by being made the personal secretary of de La Mole, who takes a personal interest in Julian due to his great intellect.  While in this household he seduces de La Mole’s haughty daughter Mathilde. Perhaps it is Julian overbearing pride that brings him tragedy in the end. It is a masterful story, entertaining and stylistically impressive. I will certainly seek out more Stendhal in the future. As with all Penguin Classic there is a very informative and useful introduction by Roger Gard.