Book description
Based on the novel by Stendhal (Henri Beyle, 1783-1842), The Red and
the Black tells the story of Julien Sorel, a talented and ambitious
young peasant. Sorel manages to cynically and hypocritically manipulate
those around him to gain a position as a secretary with a prominent
Marquis--and to seduce his employer's beautiful daughter, Mathilde. But
he doesn't love Mathilde--doesn't love anyone, really--and when he
murders another woman with whom he's had an affair, the law inexorably
grinds him in its gears. He refuses the assistance of his
"wife," and proudly goes to his rendezvous with La Guillotine.
His death, after all, is the only real protest he can make! First-rate
drama by a master playwright.
