The Red and Black by Stendhal Book Review

The Red and the Black, by Stendhal is a classic among classic books. Stendhal's work has had a long lasting affect on the world of literature, influencing great writers like Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Dickens and a host of others.
In this book review of the Red and Black, we dive into the deeper message that can be found in this classic book. There are a host of angles that one can approach this work from. This video, instead of looking at individual characters, takes the book's story as a whole and examines the critique that Stendhal is levelling at French society at the earlier end of the 19th Century.
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I hope that my role in the booktube community can be to lend some in depth book reviews of classic literature and helping with understanding classics as a whole.
Stendhal certainly holds a significant position in the Western Canon of literature and is a must in book recommendations for anyone trying to get a broad grasp of the development of the Novel as we know it.
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I wish you joy in your reading.

[@lucyssweetjournaling]

This is terrific! I love how you get so deep into a book. Very educational.

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Thanks so much Lulu. I appreciate everybody else's input to the conversation too.👍😀

[@hydrocarbon2195]

Matilde reminded me of Agalia from Dostoevsky's Idiot, and the Japanese vase chapter seemed to be a theme Dostoevsky borrowed. But I couldn't find anyone talking about the two books together

[@luisaugustobonilha8210]

The Red and the Black is a cleverly told story of the life of Napoleon Bonaparte. Sorel is not just an admirer but the incarnation of Napoleon, an ambitious social climber with undeniable intellectual attributes, Stendhal was a great writer and contemporary of Napoleon I, and shows with all his irony this tyrannical figure who claimed to love France and not French it was - indeed, patriotism is a very dangerous thing in the hands of some, especially those who don't even have reason to be patriotic - Hitler is another example. But the best part of the Stendhalian irony is in the way he portrays the "parnevenus" or newcomers to power in France torn apart by the revolution of 1789. I don't know if anyone here has read anything about the life of Napoleon I, but the similarities with the Sorel character are impressive, and will be reproduced in "The Charterhouse of Parma" in the Fabrice Del Dongo character and the Battle of Waterloo.

[@pavelusa3423]

Walter Scott's book napoleon I believe reveals stuff we should know about the French so called revolution..the Adam weishaupt connection for instance. That said didn't de sade have a issue with napoleon, just asking

[@sanssucreajoute6554]

Napoleon IS not a tyran , just a man who defend his country against Europe , he loved french people very much

[@allonzy1079]

I had so many mixed emotions reading this book, that ending was worth the struggles and the emotions that I felt so much that by the time I finished I had to stop and think ‘What did I just read?’

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

I totally relate. It isn't the smoothest of books to glide through. But a satisfying reward is waiting at the end! It hit me quite powerfully too.

[@charlotteburns7143]

Just finished the novel this morning. I loved your review of it. I couldn't put the book down. It was so harrowing because I saw so much of myself in Julien. The more things change the more they stay the same. I also identified with Mathilde. He gets deep into the heads of these people which is fascinating.Thanks so much for your analysis of the book. Maybe I'll look into reading other books you review.

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

It is a marvellous work. So pleased it had that effect on you as, for some , it is a slow book. But it's the relentless struggle and the layering of difficulties, which build up the tension for that finale. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and taking the time to comment. 😀

[@ratherrapid]

Read it 50 years ago. Always recalled R and B as a great book. Mademoiselle De La Mole and the brilliant ending. I tend to associate R and B with an equally great book in somewhat similar vein written a few years before--Goethe's William Meister. Grreat job on the review! Brought back memories.

[@Srilankanenglishteacher]

First timer here, that's to say, I am new to your channel, but God how impressed I am with your work and commentary. Without a doubt undoubtedly you deserve 1 million, but then again we don't have 1 million readers on KZbin. I immediately subscribed and liked the video. I am so glad that I had found your channel.

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

This is such a terrific response. Thank you Meranda for making my day. You might be right about there not being 1 million readers on youtube😀😂 I am really pleased that you found my channel to. As everyone who has enthusiasm and an appreciation for life and books, is always welcome about here.

[@Nika-is5gn]

Thank you for this interesting review!! ❤

[@gaildoughty6799]

Now I feel much more comfortable about reading it this year. Thank you, Tristan!

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Oh good-o. I hope that you enjoy it. You must let me know what your opinion is.😃❤🎩

[@keithhansen4891]

Brilliant analysis! And Stendhal is my favorite writer.

[@bluesgirl410cg]

Excellent review! My TBR for 2021 just got one book longer, ha. It will be on my next book order. 📚😉

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Thanks ever so much Chris. Ahhh TBR lists. My never stops growing. It is like a rash. I say to my Wife, "If I laid all my TBR books end to end around the globe, I think two thirds would sink."😂 The Red and Black is a worthwhile book though. It may not get into many peoples top 10, but it has great merit in my humble opinion.

[@Kristofur77]

Well done, while I was reading the book Prince Myshkin came to mind. I think Myshkin was much less self involved than Julien. Myshkin didn't seem to be aware of how he was perceived. Julien was able to get people to listen to him intently while Prince was a listener most of the book and people misinterpreted him. I enjoyed Red & Black even though it moved slow the writing was interesting enough without alot of conflicts occurring. Great descriptions of daily life occurrences.

[@arihahyar4409]

Thank you so much Tristan. I read the book over two months. And I used SparkNotes along the way - so I would not get lost. But I genuinely felt more the hero - Julian. And for his loves. They felt so much like real characters. Your review adds to my understanding of what Stendhal was saying. And why the book felt vital. Thank you.

[@user-cg1fx8px7u]

Loved the derriere joke and the Muttley laugh 😂 . Gave a like just for that

[@Ygnez]

Just finished it. Thank You somuch for inspiring me to read it! Keep it up!

[@pavelusa3423]

Having read justin and julienne albeit yrs ago I maintain he too was making a commentary on society and of course I mean de sade. Justin,an innocent in a horrible society ends up in distress thoughout her life for trusting and being completely naive. Her sister was the opposite and came out the other side rich and 'well connected'. Justin congrats..Indeed a gr8 pleasure listening to jor book review.

[@Nika-is5gn]

I would also like to discuss about abusive relationship between Julien and Matilda. They changed their roles from victim to tyrant and vice versa. It seems that Julien, who grew up with a tyrant papa without love tried to rule the people who loved him back seeing in them only the person under whom he has his power. And when he did not feel love he felt pain and thought how misery he is.

[@arturoloredo4123]

Wonderful! 👏 Congratulations this is very in deep and well done analysis. I loved the book when i finished it

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Thank you so much! Really pleased that you enjoyed the book. It was a real foundation piece of realism. Once again, thank you Arturo for being so positive.

[@ahlyae]

Using this review to cram for my french test (i sadly had no time to read this book, and the more im studying for it, the more im upset that I didnt have time! I will read this book one day, Iwill make sure of it) and I much liked your review and analysis of the book.

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Good luck with the test 👍

[@nedludd7622]

I know this is old, but your review reminded me of a couple of things. First there is the three volumes of Emile Zola's "Three Cities" which deals advancing and church hypocrisy. The volumes are "Lourdes", "Rome", and "Paris". Each has a different focus though they are related. "Lourdes" is probably the best if for nothing other than a horrific description of sick and dying pilgrims taking the train to Lourde searching for a miracle. The others are great too though, each with its own qualities. Then there is "Dangerous Liaisons", which you may have read. Finally, another you won't have read which is by a sadly forgotten French writer, Eugène Sue, "The Mysteries of Paris" which was the most popular novel of its time. Sue wrote several other excellent books which even got him in trouble with the authorities. Sue's book inspired W.M. Reynolds' "The Mysteries of London". It is reputed to have been the most read novel of mid-century Britain.

[@maryavertinskaya8094]

The keenest suffering that pride and love can inflict upon a human heart

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Beautifully put😃👍❤

[@DUFMAN123]

Great synopsis, I just finished this and also found it somewhat frustrating and confounding in its plotting. I was kept expecting for something of larger consequence to occur and only started to appreciate it's finer themes in the novel's closing third or so. It's ultimately quite a scathing societal and psychological critique which I'm sure also would have had a profound impact on latter 19th century European authors. Not my favourite novel my any means, mostly my irritations relate to its plotting, pacing and structure, but deeply interesting in its exploration of the themes of power, class and our individual capacity for hypocrisy.

[@matteomorellini5974]

Congrats for the great analysis, I would like also to analyze Julien's childhood and how it shaped his future. Then one question: what was Julien driven by? My shoot is that he's seeking an impossible place in the world and when he realize it cannot exist, for a soul as proud as his, the only possible choice is death

[@oliverd.shields2708]

Hello, have you ever thought of reading the Chinese novel "Water Margin", also titled "The Marshes of Mount Liang" in the best available English translation? If you do the sort of analysis you do for Stendhal for Shi Nai'an, you could make a great KZbin video, as a criticism of medieval Chinese society.

[@Nika-is5gn]

Sorry for my English, if I have some mistakes, I am not a native speaker.

[@tedsexton5406]

This book was WORK. But your video really helped me finish it. Thank you! --this novel was very much worth finishing.

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Oh well done Ted. You're right, it's not a work that rattles along pleasingly but that ending is pretty darned good, wot? Its easy to see how it influenced other writers.

[@vicentgalvan70]

Great review!

[@terricrisp3585]

Bravo, Tristan, Bravo!

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Thanks Terri. I'm pleased that you enjoyed this video. The Red and Black was a really a good experience to go through. Do you have any favourite authors?

[@oliviamaayeh3069]

Thank you so much for this video. I'm originally from the US and currently finishing high school in France. I wasn't able to complete the book and I have exams in a week which may fall on Le Rouge et le Noir and this helped me so much that I can write at least 4 pages about it. Is there a possibilty that you could list the chapters/pages of the quotes you listed? Thank you so much again. Have a great day.

[@susprime7018]

I am watching this because I read The Red and the Black and have absolutely no recollection of it, nothing against Stendahl because with all the hype about Middlemarch, I started reading it only to realize that I had already read it and thought it was a yawn the first time. I liked some of Elliot's other books. People act in their own self interest, that is his big enlightenment at 500 pages, he should just have been a 1L. Good job. Oh yes, Bleak House.

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

That is the pithiest review ever. I love it. You should do a series of 'Books in one line.' That would be amazing.😀❤

[@gaton6116]

excellent video

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Thank you. I appreciate your always taking the time to encourage and support.😃🎩❤

[@user-lt3og1gu8o]

Практикую английский с этим замечательным видео! Спасибо !

[@robertsilkowitz4400]

Just terrific

[@OccupyEtcheverry]

awesome review dude! wish i had u as english teacher... would have payed attention in class. def can see how the great are suppressed lmao

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Hey O Etcheverry, Much appreciated! Thanks for taking the time to comment so encouragingly, I really appreciate it.

[@selmaertuna2372]

great presentation.. thank you from istanbul turkey

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

Thank you Selma. I appreciate it 🙏😀

[@roystreet1395]

Enjoyed the review, So what, if Julien cannot be himself in a corrupt society? unless he has for comparison the experience, thanks to Madame de Rênal, of what that - being himself - is like?

[@Khan_2025]

amazing

[@yueyuenuna935]

3:25 10:08

[@ClearOutSamskaras]

Is there any actual Latin in the book?

[@tristanandtheclassics6538]

As far as I can remember, there may be the odd sentence, but nothing extensive, like in The Name of the Rose, by Eco. Hope this helps.

[@ClearOutSamskaras]

@@tristanandtheclassics6538 It does help, thanks. Over the last few weeks I looked around a little for editions of The Red and The Black. I saw something surprising a few days ago: old editions (from the 1920's and prior) where the book was published as two separate volumes. Where you aware of these versions and do you know why this would have been done?

[@richardbenitez1282]

This intro to book does not explain book adequately. Book is just very French and uses French society at the time of writing to tell a story of a peasant in a wealthy household. The intro I have by translator Roger Gard says French society at time was set in a cast system. That is: if you were born a peasant you were always a peasant no matter how much money you had. If, born in upper classes you were always given privileges irrespective of having no money. Anyways, the character of Julien Sorel attempts to jerk this social system around. Much like an American would do. The most immediate avenue of exploring things is using one’s looks and charm to social advantage. Enough of this. I’m just looking at KZbin because my guess is my translator is having a difficult time hashing out the French. I am looking for comments on translator Roger Gard. I think he is doing a poor job on the translation. I’ve read two French novels, one by Hugo and one by Dumas. Neither translator on these novels was awkward. I’m pissed because in looking for comments on translations I come across these twits who suggest I learn French if I have a problem. Well, I’m an old dog Mexican American here in California. I’ve read lots of Euro classics. I’ve got a sense of how good job a translator is doing. And yes, I’ve read some euro classics with different translators.

[@RolledLs]

I am exactly halfway through this novel and have to be honest : it’s boring. Very. After a promising, engaging start, the novel rapidly gets bogged down in long passages of really dull characters, politics and religious minutiae. To put it in perspective : having recently read crime and punishment - this is a real slog. But I will not be beaten.

[@sunkintree]

Funny, I thought Crime & Punishment, as good as it is, had moments where it slogged, but I felt there was never a part of Red and the Black that wasn't exciting.

[@SovTV]

The only lie is that none of you racists actually know enough about history to know how common it was in Ancient Rome to have not only Black Africans as soldiers, but as rulers. Ancient Roman society was a very socio-cultural based society. Whereas, “race” was not scene in terms of colour, but rather of cultural backgrounds and social-standing. There are literally books written about this, for those of you who actually read, like Black Kings of Ancient Rome or Black Kings of Ancient Rome by Gert Muller (conservative white male academic/author). If you want to go deeper read Black Athena by Martin Bernal (conservative white male academic/author) who explains how Greek civilization was born out of African civilization specifically Ancient Kemet (Egypt).