Scarlet and Black
by Stendhal (Henri Beyle), trans. K C Scott Moncrieff | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: Global Overview for this book
ISBN: Global Overview for this book
2 journalers for this copy...
Found for $4.40 (!!) at Budgen's on William Street, two weeks after I hunted very thoroughly for it and was assured it couldn't possibly be there. Maybe someone unearthed it specially?
"This is No. 945 of Everyman's Library" (1938 edition).
In two volumes, bound in red cloth.
I am very hesitant to put BC bookplates in here. There's a *tiny* sticker inside the cover of each volume reading Queensland Book Depot, 61 Adelaide Street, Brisbane. But there's also a fair bit of inground dust, so maybe the Book Aid bookplate will brighten it up a little.
My TBR, but reserved thereafter for Viola7. I promised her a copy I never actually had, so I've been looking for it ever since. This is a rather pretty copy!
"This is No. 945 of Everyman's Library" (1938 edition).
In two volumes, bound in red cloth.
I am very hesitant to put BC bookplates in here. There's a *tiny* sticker inside the cover of each volume reading Queensland Book Depot, 61 Adelaide Street, Brisbane. But there's also a fair bit of inground dust, so maybe the Book Aid bookplate will brighten it up a little.
My TBR, but reserved thereafter for Viola7. I promised her a copy I never actually had, so I've been looking for it ever since. This is a rather pretty copy!
This book is out of copyright and the text may be found online at
http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks03/0300261.txt
or a different translation at
http://www.4literature.net/Stendhal/Red_and_the_Black/
I found this a captivating story.
The writer was almost contemporary with Jane Austen (this novel was written in 1829-30) and it is interesting to note the subtle differences in their portrayals of 'society'. I might guess that the differences have as much to do with the difference between French and English mannerisms than with Stendhal's modernism or politics. The writer and his characters lived through the reign and defeat of Napoleon, and the older characters were victims of and exiles from the Revolution and Terror of 1789-93. It is not surprising that politics is on everyone's lips in a way you simply don't expect from contemporary English writers.
On the other hand, I have read elsewhere that Stendhal and this novel in particular were 'far ahead of their time' and I suppose The Red and the Black bears comparison with Dickens, Tolstoy or Hugo.
The career and love-affairs of the hero Julien Sorel are followed from his father's water-driven sawmill via tutor to the mayor's children, study for the priesthood, and secretary to a Marquis, to a completely unexpected ending.
While the ending of the novel is not exactly abrupt, the final chapters do change the course and style of the story in a way I didn't find very satisfying or consistent with the phlegmatic character of the protagonist. I fear that the pressure of writing chapters as a serial (as did Dickens) for a periodical publication maybe forced a change in the direction of the story. I'm just a little unconvinced that the author intended this ending while he was writing the first three-quarters of the book!
In any case this is a fine, philosophical novel with a lot of interesting details about the landscape, economics, religious life and political intrigue of the period.
These two pretty little volumes will be in the post to Viola7 shortly.
http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks03/0300261.txt
or a different translation at
http://www.4literature.net/Stendhal/Red_and_the_Black/
I found this a captivating story.
The writer was almost contemporary with Jane Austen (this novel was written in 1829-30) and it is interesting to note the subtle differences in their portrayals of 'society'. I might guess that the differences have as much to do with the difference between French and English mannerisms than with Stendhal's modernism or politics. The writer and his characters lived through the reign and defeat of Napoleon, and the older characters were victims of and exiles from the Revolution and Terror of 1789-93. It is not surprising that politics is on everyone's lips in a way you simply don't expect from contemporary English writers.
On the other hand, I have read elsewhere that Stendhal and this novel in particular were 'far ahead of their time' and I suppose The Red and the Black bears comparison with Dickens, Tolstoy or Hugo.
The career and love-affairs of the hero Julien Sorel are followed from his father's water-driven sawmill via tutor to the mayor's children, study for the priesthood, and secretary to a Marquis, to a completely unexpected ending.
While the ending of the novel is not exactly abrupt, the final chapters do change the course and style of the story in a way I didn't find very satisfying or consistent with the phlegmatic character of the protagonist. I fear that the pressure of writing chapters as a serial (as did Dickens) for a periodical publication maybe forced a change in the direction of the story. I'm just a little unconvinced that the author intended this ending while he was writing the first three-quarters of the book!
In any case this is a fine, philosophical novel with a lot of interesting details about the landscape, economics, religious life and political intrigue of the period.
These two pretty little volumes will be in the post to Viola7 shortly.
This beautiful Everyman edition in two volumes arrived yesterday, along with some peppermint tea! Thank you very much to Xoddam!
I received this lovely little red edition ages ago and I must apologise for journaling it so late! I read the two volumes when my mother was in hospital last year and found them a real solace.
Volume One
This one begins the story of young and ambitious Julien Sorel who comes from a poor peasant family and hates the rich with passion. He beomes a tutor to the Mayor's children and falls in love with the Nayor's beautiful, but silly wife. Dramatic and emotional, Julien finds it difficult to cope with this situation!
Although this is a classic novel, Stendhal's writing is very light and easy to read. This expresses his anti-Catholic and Napoleonic sentiments and is a very wise, if cynical, novel.
Volume One
This one begins the story of young and ambitious Julien Sorel who comes from a poor peasant family and hates the rich with passion. He beomes a tutor to the Mayor's children and falls in love with the Nayor's beautiful, but silly wife. Dramatic and emotional, Julien finds it difficult to cope with this situation!
Although this is a classic novel, Stendhal's writing is very light and easy to read. This expresses his anti-Catholic and Napoleonic sentiments and is a very wise, if cynical, novel.
Volume Two
Ambitious Julien is well on the way to becoming a priest in this novel even though he really has no time for the Church! This time he travels to Paris to stay with another wealthy family and falls in love with clever, but bitter Mathilde, the daughter of the house. He then gets himself into another nasty situation involving passion and jealousy.
I didn't think that the ending fit with the slightly frothy nature of the rest of this story and it came as rather a shock. I liked Stendhal's writing very much, however. I certainly want to read his other classics.
Ambitious Julien is well on the way to becoming a priest in this novel even though he really has no time for the Church! This time he travels to Paris to stay with another wealthy family and falls in love with clever, but bitter Mathilde, the daughter of the house. He then gets himself into another nasty situation involving passion and jealousy.
I didn't think that the ending fit with the slightly frothy nature of the rest of this story and it came as rather a shock. I liked Stendhal's writing very much, however. I certainly want to read his other classics.
