The Red and the Black by StendhalMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I rarely read fiction, but over the years I have so much about this book and the antihero Julien Sorel that I felt compelled to read this work, apparently part of the Western European Great Books canon. The arrogant and emotional Sorel "fails up" to a near Bishopric and seduces, almost without trying, a wealthy woman many years his senior and the daughter of his marquis benefactor. All this would seem too implausible, but for the acute analysis of this characters' psychology. The realism of the novel reads to this true crime fan, like a look into the mind of a criminal (would-be killer, here) in a way found in no true crime work. Also, published in 1830, this is a period drama of sorts in post-Napoleonic France. This English edition has translations of all quotes, and plenty of footnotes to explain the relevance of every historical figure mentioned as well as a few fictitious ones. The only unfortunate thing is that this particular edition is so cramped with small type and very thin pages that it was a bit difficult to enjoy the nearly 500-page story. (Introduction by Lester Crocker.)
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