The Canon Library
Cover of The Red and the Black

19th Century · Novel

The Red and the Black

by Stendhal. Julien Sorel attempts to rise through Restoration France using intelligence, seduction, and self-invention.

Date
1830
Origin
France
Era
19th Century
Genre
Novel
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
Long
Collection
The Western Canon

Subjects and themes

Why it matters

Julien Sorel attempts to rise through Restoration France using intelligence, seduction, and self-invention.

This work is included in the collection on the basis of bloom. Its cataloged influence level is 5 out of 5.

Related works

Book

Vanity Fair

William Makepeace Thackeray · Victorian · Novel, satire

Reading lists featuring The Red and the Black

Reading path

Essential 100

A century of works that gives the broadest useful first view of the Western canon. 100 books · Advanced.