Scarlet and Black

Stendhal

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1830

Book Brief

Beta

Stendhal

Scarlet and Black

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1830

Book Details

Pages

512

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

France • 1820s

Publication Year

1830

Audience

Adult

Super Short Summary

Scarlet and Black by Stendhal follows the ambitious young Julien Sorel as he navigates French society's complex hierarchy during the Bourbon Restoration. Julien's journey explores themes of class conflict, personal ambition, and the influence of the Napoleonic era on individual aspirations.

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Stendhal's Scarlet and Black masterfully depicts 19th-century French society through the ambitious rise of Julien Sorel. Praise centers on its psychological depth, lively prose, and complex characters. However, some find its pacing uneven and its dense political and social commentary challenging. Overall, it's celebrated as a seminal work of Realist literature.

Who Should Read Scarlet and Black?

Readers who would enjoy Scarlet and Black by Stendhal are often drawn to psychological novels and the intricate portrayal of ambition and romance in 19th-century France. Fans of War and Peace by Tolstoy and Madame Bovary by Flaubert, with their detailed character studies and historical contexts, would likely appreciate this work.

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