Book description
Headstrong and na ve, the young Italian aristocrat Fabrizio del Dongo
is determined to defy the wrath of his right-wing father and go to war
to fight for Napoleon. He stumbles on the Battle of Waterloo,
ill-prepared, yet filled with enthusiasm for war and glory. Finally
heeding advice, Fabrizio sneaks back to Milan, only to become embroiled
in a series of amorous exploits, fuelled by his impetuous nature and the
political chicanery of his aunt Gina and her wily lover. Judged by
Balzac to be the most important French novel of its time, The
Charterhouse of Parma is a compelling novel of extravagance and daring,
blending the intrigues of the Italian court with the romance and
excitement of youth.
Henri Marie Beyle (1783-1842) had a post in the Ministry of War and
followed Napoleon's campaigns before retiring to Italy. Here, as
'Stendhal', he began writing on art, music and travel. He later wrote
novels, literary criticism, and various biographical and
autobiographical works.
John Sturrock is Consulting Editor for the London Review of Books, a
literary critic, travel writer, and translator. His translations for
Penguin include novels by Stendhal and Hugo, one volume of the new
Proust translation: Sodom and Gomorrah, and most recently (with Jeremy
Harding) a volume of Rimbaud's poems and letters (0140448020).
