Penguin Classics: The Red and the Black by Stendhal

BC Gornick: Did not expect a love story so tragic and engaging when I picked up this classic. Well-written with characters acting upon misunderstanding each other’s true motives and feelings, hidden by decorum and poorly made assumptions, while also misunderstanding what their own hearts truly ever wanted.

United States on Nov 18, 2023

BRIAN PATRICK Donaldson: The translation is probably faithful to the style of original writing but this makes it difficult to understand at times and to appreciate the ironies used by Stendhal. One for students of literature.

United Kingdom on May 05, 2022

Moe Mur: One of the most unique books I've read. Language, social life at the time, power and intrigue. A book of long ago that definitely stands the test of time.

Canada on Nov 12, 2021

Amazon Customer: Font is really, really small.

United States on Apr 25, 2021

ehsaneh: 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.

United Kingdom on Aug 10, 2020

TorontoGirl: This edition of Stendhal's "The Red and the Black" appears to have been either translated by a bot or text-entered by a bot. I deeply regret that I missed the closing of the "return" date. I had the same trouble with Edith Wharton's "The Age of Innocence" several months ago, and complained, with no result. These cheap editions of classics are not worth the trouble and I will be looking to other providers than Amazon for such titles in the future.

Canada on May 10, 2020

Mercurius: Imbued with a strangely moral cynicism, Stendhal’s masterly novel centres in Julien Sorel’s progress from the provinces to Paris, a progress peculiarly informed by the example of Napoleon...

Canada on Feb 27, 2020

G. B.: Stendhal concludes this tale with a dedication: TO THE HAPPY FEW. After we read about Julien Sorel, the protagonist, and the people he encounters, it is an apt way to finish the book because what is missing from the story is happiness. The few times it happens, it is always conditional. Even when Julien experiences love, he is overwhelmed by feelings of triumph, not passion.

Because this classic was written in 1830, today’s readers can be forgiven if some of the plot lines, psychological exposition, obvious use of foreshadowing and characters seem a bit familiar. It is easy to envision a young Theodore Dreiser, Erich Maria Remarque, Saul Bellow or Willa Cather holed up in a corner devouring every word as it sowed the seeds for their writing (I found so many parallels with An American Tragedy and Augie March). Stendhal’s story delves deeply into a particular society in a unique period of history. Julien indeed feels a bit lost; he would rather have been marching with his hero Napoleon in an earlier time. At times it seems tedious, which Stendhal comically acknowledges: “The total boredom of the life led by Julien, without real interests, will no doubt be shared by the...

United States on Feb 02, 2017

T. M. Teale: This novel has everything: political intrigue, the psychological detail of detective work, the ambiguity of love and romance; it's a comedy of manners, but also a saga of helplessness and tragedy, incisive social commentary. Published in 1830, The Red and The Black, is timeless: its relevance to contemporary Westernized or Americanized, bureaucratic, and capitalist-developed nations is both a condemnation and a triumph.

The Red and the Black first caught my attention 25 years ago in January 1983; a stack of copies were set out on a table in the Tattered Cover Bookshop, Denver (then on 1st Avenue in the Cherry Creek area). At that time, the Penguin edition was a new translation to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of the author, Henri-Marie Beyle, January 23, 1783. I don't know how or why I decided to buy a copy; maybe it had something to do with the brief review on the back cover, which was perhaps then as it is now: "Handsome, ambitious Julien Sorel is determined to rise above his humble provincial origins." Maybe I saw something of Julien in myself, or maybe like Mathilde de la Mole, I was looking for a life outside the script dictated by parents and society,...

United States on Feb 20, 2008

ITS: I won't even pretend to be original on my review. I am afraid I will repeat the praises people have sung to this book in years. "The Red and The Black" is a masterful classic piece.

The story of "rags to riches" and "riches to madness", even though placed in after-Napoleonic, pre-revolutionary France, sounds so coherent for all Western world present day Julien Soriels. And by God, I see them everywhere. Any youngster with ambition and drive can find a little bit of Julien Soriel in him.

Philosophically speaking, Stendhal completes a magnificent analysis of the early nineteenth century French society. His observations on human nature, delivered through our main hero, hold their value and can be applied to our present day egocentric society. How could one not draw parallels to the present day "red" (current ruling political class in the US) and "black" (the oh-so-mischievous religious right). The similarities are frightening. Excellent example of the "Plus ca change..."

"The Red and the Black" is truly gold, but you have to sort through a lot of old-fashion archaic expressionism to get the best out of the novel.

I will highly recommend this book to all...

United States on Sep 10, 2005