The Red and the Black by Stendhal

I'm in the process of reading Stendhal's The Red and the Black for the Spring semester 2007 of my Books and Brunch classes. It's not difficult to read at all and the story of Julien Sorel is wonderful. It is set in 1830 and gives details of what was happening in France during the Restoration: The upper classes who were delighted the King was back on the throne and the lower classes some of whom were getting educations and wanted a liberal, democratic government.

Here's a brief review:
Handsome and ambitious, Julien Sorel is determined to rise above his humble peasant origins and make something of his life -- by adopting the code of hypocrisy by which his society operates. Julien ultimately commits a crime -- out of passion, principle, or insanity -- that will bring about his downfall. The Red and the Black is a lively, satirical picture of French Restoration society after Waterloo, riddled with corruption, greed, and ennui. The complex, sympathetic portrayal of Julien, the cold exploiter whose Machiavellian campaign is undercut by his own emotions, makes him Stendhal's most brilliant and human creation -- and one of the greatest characters in European literature. (Alalettre.com) the teach

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