The Red and the Black is a historical psychological novel by Stendhal, published in French in 1830 as Le Rouge et le noir. The novel, set in France during the Second Restoration (1815-30), is a powerful character study of Julien Sorel, an ambitious young man who uses seduction as a tool for advancement. M. de RĂȘnal, the mayor of the provincial town VerriĂšres, hires Julien Sorel to be his children's tutor. Julien is only a carpenter's son, but dreams of following in the footsteps of his hero, Napoleon. However, in Julien's time, men gain power in the Church and not in the army. Even though he is training to become a priest, Julien decides to seduce the mayor's wife, Mme. de RĂȘnal, because he thinks that it is his duty. They become lovers, but M. Valenod, the mayor's political adversary, finds out about the affair and begins to spread rumors. M. de RĂȘnal is profoundly embarrassed, but his wife convinces him that the rumors are false. M. ChĂ©lan, the town priest and Julien's mentor, sends him to the Besançon seminary to avoid any further scandal.The director of the seminary, M. Pirard, likes Julien and encourages him to become a great priest. Julien does very well at the seminary, but only because he wants to make a fortune and succeed in French society. The other priests at the seminary are not aware of Julien's hypocrisy, but are jealous of his intelligence. M. Pirard is disgusted with the political involvement of the Church and resigns. His aristocratic benefactor, the Marquis de la Mole, wants M. Pirard to be his personal secretary in Paris, but M. Pirard tells him to hire Julien instead.Julien is both enthralled and repulsed by Parisian society at the same time. He tries to fit in among the nobles but they treat him as a social inferior. However, the Marquis's daughter, Mathilde, falls in love with Julien and they become lovers. When Mathilde gets pregnant and tells the Marquis about her affair, he is furious, but soon ennobles Julien so Mathilde can marry him. Julien finally has the aristocratic title he always wanted. But Mme. de RĂȘnal sends the Marquis a letter denouncing Julien as a womanizer only concerned with making his fortune. The Marquis then refuses to let Mathilde marry Julien, who furiously returns to VerriĂšres and shoots Mme. de RĂȘnal. She survives, but Julien is sentenced to death anyway. Mme. de RĂȘnal forgives Julien and dies of love three days after his execution (Sparknotes)
eBook - ePub
The Red and the Black
Unabridged text with an introduction by Horace B. Samuel
- 656 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub
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Table of contents
- Notes
- Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Chapter I: A Small Town
- Chapter II: A Mayor
- Chapter III: The Poor Fund
- Chapter IV: A Father and a Son
- Chapter V: A Negotiation
- Chapter VI: Ennui
- Chapter VII: The Elective Affinities
- Chapter VIII: Little Episodes
- Chapter IX: An Evening in the Country
- Chapter X: A Great Heart and a Small Fortune
- Chapter XI: An Evening
- Chapter XII: A Journey
- Chapter XIII: The Open Work Stockings
- Chapter XIV: The English Scissors
- Chapter XV: The Cock's Song
- Chapter XVI: The Day After
- Chapter XVII: The First Deputy
- Chapter XVIII: A King at verriĂres
- Chapter XIX: Thinking Produces Suffering
- Chapter XX: Anonymous Letters
- Chapter XXI: Dialogue With a Master
- Chapter XXII: Manners of Procedure in 1830
- Chapter XXIII: Sorrows of an Official
- Chapter XXIV: A Capital
- Chapter XXV: The Seminary
- Chapter XXVI: The World, or What the Rich Lack
- Chapter XXVII: First Experience of Life
- Chapter XXVIII: A Procession
- Chapter XXIX: The First Promotion
- Chapter XXX: An Ambitious Man
- Chapter XXXI: The Pleasures of the Country
- Chapter XXXII: Entry Into Society
- Chapter XXXIII: The First Steps
- Chapter XXXIV: The hĂtel De La Mole
- Chapter XXXV: Sensibility and a Great Pious Lady
- Chapter XXXVI: Pronunciation
- Chapter XXXVII: An Attack of Gout
- Chapter XXXVIII: What is the Decoration Which Confers Distinction?
- Chapter XXXIX: The Ball
- Chapter XL: Queen Marguerite
- Chapter XLI: A Young Girl's Dominion
- Chapter XLII: Is He a Danton?
- Chapter XLIII: A Plot
- Chapter XLIV: A Young Girl's Thoughts
- Chapter XLV: Is It a Plot?
- Chapter XLVI: One O'clock in the Morning
- Chapter XLVII: An Old Sword
- Chapter XLVIII: Cruel Moments
- Chapter XLIX: The Opera Bouffe
- Chapter L: The Japanese Vase
- Chapter LI: The Secret Note
- Chapter LII: The Discussion
- Chapter LIII: The Clergy, the Forests, Liberty
- Chapter LIV: Strasbourg
- Chapter LV: The Ministry of Virtue
- Chapter LVI: Moral Love
- Chapter LVII: The Finest Places in the Church
- Chapter LVIII: Manon Lescaut
- Chapter LIX: Ennui
- Chapter LX: A Box at the Bouffes
- Chapter LXI: Frighten Her
- Chapter LXII: The Tiger
- Chapter LXIII: The Hell of Weakness
- Chapter LXIV: A Man of Intellect
- Chapter LXV: A Storm
- Chapter LXVI: Sad Details
- Chapter LXVII: A Turret
- Chapter LXVIII: A Powerful Man
- Chapter LXIX: The Intrigue
- Chapter LXX: Tranquility
- Chapter LXXI: The Trial
- Chapter LXXII
- Chapter LXXIII
- Chapter LXXIV
- Chapter LXXV
- Copyright
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Yes, you can access The Red and the Black by Stendhal Stendhal in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Literature & Historical Fiction. We have over 1.5 million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.