The Red and the Black
Stendhal – 1830
rating- 10/ French Classic

A bleak yet somehow charming and in the end complex satire of hypocrisy in love and politics (of all kinds) during the Restoration Era in France.

Julien Sorel, the hero of Stendahl’s tale, starts out life as the very intelligent but physically abused son of an ignorant carpenter. He is befriended by the parish priest who tutors him through enough school to get him a position as a tutor in the home of the rich local mayor.   >>>>MORE>>>>