Stendhal (1783-1842)

The Red and the Black

• Julien Sorel prefers spending his time reading or daydreaming about being in Napoleon's army than work with his father and brothers. He becomes an acolyte for the local Catholic Abbe, who secures him a post as tutor for the children of the Mayor of Verrieres, Monsieur de Renal.
• Over time, Julien begins an affair with the wife of M. de Renal and the affair is exposed by a servant, Eliza, who had designs of her own on Julien.
• Julien is banished and moves to a seminary where the director, M. Pirard, takes a liking to him, and he recommends Julien as a candidate for secretary to the diplomat and reactionary M. de la Mole.
• Julien tries to participate in the high society of Paris but the nobles look down on him as something of a novelty. He is torn between his ambitions to rise in society and his disgust at the base materialism and hypocrisy of Parisien nobility.
• Mathilde de la Mole, the daughter of Julien's boss, seduces him and they begin an affair. Mathilde reveals she is pregnant and M. de la Mole eventually grants Julien a stipend, a place in the army and his blessing to marry his daughter.
  However, M. de la Mole receives a letter from Mme. de Renal warning him that Julien is nothing but a social climber who preys on vulnerable women and rescinds all he is going to give Julien.
• Julien races back to Verrieres and attempts to shoot Mme de Renal but fails. He is sentenced to death. Mme. Renal eventually forgives Julien and she along with Mathilde attempt to bribe officials to release Julien, but fail.