The Red and the Black

Le Rouge et le Noir (The Red and the Black) is a novel by Stendhal, published in 1831. The title has been translated into English variously as Scarlet and Black, Red and Black, and The Red and the Black. It is set in 1830s France relating a young man's attempts to rise above his plebeian birth through deception and hypocrisy, only to find himself betrayed by his own passions.

Trivia

Most of the chapters begin with epigrams that appear to be quotes from literature, poetry, or from famous personages. In reality, Stendhal himself wrote the majority of these epigrams, but attributed them to writers whom he thought capable of writing or saying such things.

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Stendhal left the last four chapters untitled. These are also the only four chapters that lack epigrams.

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The novel ends with Stendhal's standard closing quote, "To the Happy Few." This is either a reference to the few who could understand his writing, or a sardonic reference to the happy few who are born into prosperity.

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