History & Criticism
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The Red and the Black (Penguin Classics)
Charts the rise and fall of an ambitious young social climber in a cruel, monarchical society
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.
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
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.
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
Editorial Reviews
Praise for Burton Raffel's translations
For Balzac's Père Goriot
"Raffel's Père Goriot is both faithful and beautiful, and that makes it a masterpiece." -Alain Renoir
"I predict that this translation will give Balzac's great novel a new life for English and American readers. . . . The definitive translation for this generation." -Peter Brooks
"[Raffel's] translation has the vigor and elasticity of Balzac's style, and catches with uncanny accuracy the tone of the period." -Guy Davenport
For Cervantes's Don Quijote
"[Raffel's Don Quijote] recasts the original into lively English, without losing the complexity and flavor of the Spanish. . . . This Quijote flows smoothly and reads, in fact, like original prose rather than a translation." -Adrienne Martin
For Balzac's Père Goriot
"Raffel's Père Goriot is both faithful and beautiful, and that makes it a masterpiece." -Alain Renoir
"I predict that this translation will give Balzac's great novel a new life for English and American readers. . . . The definitive translation for this generation." -Peter Brooks
"[Raffel's] translation has the vigor and elasticity of Balzac's style, and catches with uncanny accuracy the tone of the period." -Guy Davenport
For Cervantes's Don Quijote
"[Raffel's Don Quijote] recasts the original into lively English, without losing the complexity and flavor of the Spanish. . . . This Quijote flows smoothly and reads, in fact, like original prose rather than a translation." -Adrienne Martin
Readers Top Reviews
ehsanehPMFTahaDavid
This is by far is one of the best novels I ever read. Although I did not read the English one yet. Looking forward to reading it. I highly recommend it as a present. The main character is young and very ambition and it shows that how he opens his way through the social obstacles. This book gives you a very good picture of french social and political structure at that time too.
ShopThis
If you're just getting into Stendahl's work, this will be a test for you. The translator has provided translation for Stendahl's accompanying notes, and added excellent additional material. If you're looking for a quick, fun read: nyet. If you're starting your "Stendahl experience," this is a good way to go. The story, IMHO, has a real reversal ending. E
Lewis Woolston
This novel had been on my "to-read" list for a long time and now I've read it i'm appalled that I didn't read it sooner. The biting criticism and satire of society and its hypocrisy is still relevant today. The plot follows a young man who wants more from life than being a peasant. He educates himself and comes to the attention of the local church hierarchy. He furthers his education and gains a position in a middling household as a tutor to the children of a local somebody. The envy he feels and the derision and contempt he is treated with conspire to push his ambition further to ruinous heights. He commits adultery and causes scandal eventually ending in murder. One feels sorry for him as a victim of society's class divisions and rules yet at the same time he brings his tragedy on himself. It is almost Shakespearean in its scale. Highly recommended for all lovers of quality literature.
krebsman
This book has been on my list for about 50 years. The French novel it reminded me of most is Flaubert’s SENTIMENTAL EDUCATION. Both concern ambitious, yet basically foolish, young men who dream of joining a higher social caste and leading a life of romantic intrigue. THE RED AND THE BLACK’s youthful protagonist is Julien Sorel, son of a carpenter, whose gift for Latin and his prodigious memory are recognized at an early age and lead to his being groomed for the clergy. He is a nice young man with enormous potential. He becomes a sought-after tutor among the bourgeoisie. His natural charm and good looks take him a long way up the social ladder. He learns how to seduce women of high society. However, his youthful arrogance and ignorance of just how the social caste system works lead to his downfall. I found it quite entertaining and remarkably cinematic in the way a scene would sometimes “dissolve” into the next scene. It’s a long book, but I found it fast moving. FOUR STARS
Mark Falcoff
I have read this book twice--once in English, and then once in the original French (which by the way is not that difficult if you have a couple years of college French behind you). It is a brilliant sociological and cultural history of France during the restoration of Louis XVIII. The French revolution and Napoleon are behind us, and yet the ancient regime hasn't quite been restored. Julien Sorel is a peasant with ambitions to vault to the top of society, which now--after all those upheavals--is just barely possible because...he is irresistible to women and knows it. It is a cynical book but full of entertaining moments. How one wishes one could have known Stendhal personally to discuss this book with him. It is worth several readings. Start now!
Short Excerpt Teaser
From his earliest childhood he had experienced moments of rapture. Then, he would dream with delight that he would one day encounter the beautiful women of Paris, and would compel their attention by some famous deed. Why should he not be loved by one of them as Bonaparte, while still poor, had been loved by the brilliant Mme de Beauharnais? For many years, scarcely an hour of Julien's life passed without his telling himself that Bonaparte, an obscure and penniless lieutenant, had made himself the master of the world with his sword. This idea consoled him for his sufferings, which he thought great, and redoubled his happiness when he had any.
The construction of the church and the Justice of the Peace's judgements suddenly enlightened him; and idea came to him which made him distraught for some weeks, and seized hold of him with the overwhelming force belonging to the first idea with which a passionate nature believe itself to have been inspired.
'When Bonaparte made people talk about him, France was in danger of invasion; military talent was necessary and fashionable. Today one sees 40-year-old priests with stipends of a hundred thousand francs, that is to say, three times more than Napoleon's famous generals. They need people behind them to support them. Look at this Justice of the peace, so sensible, such a fine upstanding man until now, so established, who has dishonoured himself for fear of offending a young clergyman of thirty. It is necessary to be a priest.'
On one occasion, in the midst of this new piety, and after he had already been studying theology for two years, he was betrayed into a sudden eruption of the fire that consumed his soul. At M. Chélan's dwelling, during a dinner for the clergy to whom the good curé was presenting him as a prodigy of tuition, he found himself fervidly praising Napoleon. He bound his right arm across his chest, pretending it had been dislocated in moving a pine trunk, and carried it in this irksome position for two months. After this bodily penance, he absolved himself. This was the young man of nineteen - but so seemingly frail that one would have taken him for no more than seventeen - who, carrying his little parcel under his arm, entered the magnificent church of Verrières.
He found it sombre and solitary. To mark a festival all the church windows had been covered with crimson cloth. The sun's rays shone through to produce a dim light, most pious and imposing. Julien shivered. Alone in the church, he established himself in the pew that had the finest appearance. It bore the arms of M. de Rênal.
On the payer desk Julien noticed a fragment of printed paper, spread out as though to be read. He directed his eyes towards it and saw:
Details of the execution and the last moments of Louis Jenrel, executed at Besancon, on the...
The paper was torn off. On the other side could be seen the first words of a line, which were: The first step.
- Who could have put this paper here? said Julien. Poor devil, he added with a sigh, his names ends like mine... and he crumpled the paper.
Leaving, Julien thought he saw blood next to the holy water stoup - it was holy water that had been spilled: the reflection from the red blinds covering the windows gave it the appearance of blood.
Eventually Julien was ashamed of his secret terror.
- Am I a coward! he said to himself, To arms!
This phrase, so often repeasted in the Surgeon-major's accounts of battles, represented the heroic for Julien. He raised himself up and walked rapidly towards M. de Rênal's house.
In spite of these fine resolves, from the moment he saw it twenty paces away, he was seized with an overpowering timidity. The iron grille was open; to him it seemed magnificent; and it was up to him to enter in.
The construction of the church and the Justice of the Peace's judgements suddenly enlightened him; and idea came to him which made him distraught for some weeks, and seized hold of him with the overwhelming force belonging to the first idea with which a passionate nature believe itself to have been inspired.
'When Bonaparte made people talk about him, France was in danger of invasion; military talent was necessary and fashionable. Today one sees 40-year-old priests with stipends of a hundred thousand francs, that is to say, three times more than Napoleon's famous generals. They need people behind them to support them. Look at this Justice of the peace, so sensible, such a fine upstanding man until now, so established, who has dishonoured himself for fear of offending a young clergyman of thirty. It is necessary to be a priest.'
On one occasion, in the midst of this new piety, and after he had already been studying theology for two years, he was betrayed into a sudden eruption of the fire that consumed his soul. At M. Chélan's dwelling, during a dinner for the clergy to whom the good curé was presenting him as a prodigy of tuition, he found himself fervidly praising Napoleon. He bound his right arm across his chest, pretending it had been dislocated in moving a pine trunk, and carried it in this irksome position for two months. After this bodily penance, he absolved himself. This was the young man of nineteen - but so seemingly frail that one would have taken him for no more than seventeen - who, carrying his little parcel under his arm, entered the magnificent church of Verrières.
He found it sombre and solitary. To mark a festival all the church windows had been covered with crimson cloth. The sun's rays shone through to produce a dim light, most pious and imposing. Julien shivered. Alone in the church, he established himself in the pew that had the finest appearance. It bore the arms of M. de Rênal.
On the payer desk Julien noticed a fragment of printed paper, spread out as though to be read. He directed his eyes towards it and saw:
Details of the execution and the last moments of Louis Jenrel, executed at Besancon, on the...
The paper was torn off. On the other side could be seen the first words of a line, which were: The first step.
- Who could have put this paper here? said Julien. Poor devil, he added with a sigh, his names ends like mine... and he crumpled the paper.
Leaving, Julien thought he saw blood next to the holy water stoup - it was holy water that had been spilled: the reflection from the red blinds covering the windows gave it the appearance of blood.
Eventually Julien was ashamed of his secret terror.
- Am I a coward! he said to himself, To arms!
This phrase, so often repeasted in the Surgeon-major's accounts of battles, represented the heroic for Julien. He raised himself up and walked rapidly towards M. de Rênal's house.
In spite of these fine resolves, from the moment he saw it twenty paces away, he was seized with an overpowering timidity. The iron grille was open; to him it seemed magnificent; and it was up to him to enter in.
