Red and the Black
Stendhal
Play
Length 18 h 48 min
Chapters 75
First published 1916
It is a brave author indeed who gives his hero as many flaws as Stendhal bestows upon young Julien Sorel, an ambitious young carpenter's son turned priest who secretly models his behaviour after the heroics of Napoleon, in an era when the great man had only recently died at St Helena, and French society has grown stultified (for all its still vivid memories of the Jacobins' excesses and fear these may be revived). With remarkable skill, Stendhal manages as once to hold Julian's character up to excoriating examination while leaving us with some measure of sympathy for his young hero as he romantically pursues, first, the wife of his local mayor, then the haughty young daughter of a nobleman who has employed him as a personal secretary. Combining penetrating psychological insights with scathing social satire, The Red and the Black is rightly regarded as one of the great classics of French literature. (Summary by Peter Dann)
Chapters
1
Introduction Read by Peter Dann 21:38
2
Chapter 2: A Mayor Read by Peter Dann 7:13
3
Chapter 3: The Poor Fund Read by Peter Dann 12:22
4
Chapter 4: A Father and Son Read by Peter Dann 9:13
5
Chapter 5: A Negotiation Read by Peter Dann 17:05
6
Chapter 6: Ennui Read by Peter Dann 17:22
7
Chapter 7: The Elective Affinities Read by Peter Dann 24:27
8
Chapter 8: The Little Episodes Read by Peter Dann 18:02
9
Chapter 9: An Evening in the Country Read by Peter Dann 18:03
10
Chapter 10: A Great Heart and a Small Fortune Read by Peter Dann 7:02
11
Chapter 11: An Evening Read by Peter Dann 11:01
12
Chapter 12: A Journey Read by Peter Dann 14:29
13
Chapter 13: The Open-work Stockings Read by Peter Dann 11:14
14
Chapter 14: The English Scissors Read by Peter Dann 7:00
15
Chapter 15: The Cock's Song Read by Peter Dann 8:01
16
Chapter 16: The Day After Read by Peter Dann 10:12
17
Chapter 17: The First Deputy Read by Peter Dann 10:32
18
Chapter 18: A King at Verrières Read by Peter Dann 29:16
19
Chapter 19: Thinking Produces Suffering Read by Peter Dann 18:36
20
Chapter 20: Anonymous Letters Read by Peter Dann 8:37
21
Chapter 21: Dialogue with a Master Read by Peter Dann 29:15
22
Chapter 22: Manners of Procedure in 1830 Read by Peter Dann 27:28
23
Chapter 23: Sorrows of an Official Read by Peter Dann 27:49
24
Chapter 24: A Capital Read by Peter Dann 14:23
25
Chapter 25: The Seminary Read by Peter Dann 15:58
26
Chapter 26: The World, or What the Rich Lack Read by Peter Dann 22:01
27
Chapter 27: First Experience of Life Read by Peter Dann 8:19
28
Chapter 28: A Procession Read by Peter Dann 15:10
29
Chapter 29: The First Promotion Read by Peter Dann 33:47
30
Chapter 30: An Ambitious Man Read by Peter Dann 35:23
31
Chapter 31: The Pleasures of the Country Read by Peter Dann 22:41
32
Chapter 32: Entry Into Society Read by Peter Dann 17:14
33
Chapter 33: The First Steps Read by Peter Dann 7:17
34
Chapter 34: The Hôtel de la Mole Read by Peter Dann 26:31
35
Chapter 35: Sensibility and a Great Pious Lady Read by Peter Dann 6:40
36
Chapter 36: Pronunciation Read by Peter Dann 14:31
37
Chapter 37: An Attack of Gout Read by Peter Dann 17:23
38
Chapter 38: What is the Decoration Which Confers Distinction? Read by Peter Dann 21:30
39
Chapter 39: The Ball Read by Peter Dann 19:58
40
Chapter 40: Queen Marguerite Read by Peter Dann 17:30
41
Chapter 41: A Young Girl's Dominion Read by Peter Dann 9:16
42
Chapter 42: Is He a Danton? Read by Peter Dann 12:58
43
Chapter 43: A Plot Read by Peter Dann 19:54
44
Chapter 44: A Young Girl's Thoughts Read by Peter Dann 12:41
45
Chapter 45: Is it a Plot? Read by Peter Dann 10:57
46
Chapter 46: One O'Clock in the Morning Read by Peter Dann 13:47
47
Chapter 47: An Old Sword Read by Peter Dann 9:46
48
Chapter 48: Cruel Moments Read by Peter Dann 11:29
49
Chapter 49: The Opera Bouffe Read by Peter Dann 19:49
50
Chapter 50: The Japanese Vase Read by Peter Dann 13:05
51
Chapter 51: The Secret Note Read by Peter Dann 10:42
52
Chapter 52: The Discussion Read by Peter Dann 17:17
53
Chapter 53: The Clergy, The Forests, Liberty Read by Peter Dann 17:37
54
Chapter 54: Strasbourg Read by Peter Dann 13:51
55
Chapter 55: The Ministry of Virtue Read by Peter Dann 15:01
56
Chapter 56: Moral Love Read by Peter Dann 8:05
57
Chapter 57: The Finest Places in the Church Read by Peter Dann 7:28
58
Chapter 58: Manon Lescaut Read by Peter Dann 9:20
59
Chapter 59: Ennui Read by Peter Dann 7:56
60
Chapter 60: A Box at the Bouffes Read by Peter Dann 10:00
61
Chapter 61: Frighten Her Read by Peter Dann 10:45
62
Chapter 62: The Tiger Read by Peter Dann 11:07
63
Chapter 63: The Hell of Weakness Read by Peter Dann 11:06
64
Chapter 64: A Man of Intellect Read by Peter Dann 14:00
65
Chapter 65: A Storm Read by Peter Dann 11:51
66
Chapter 66: Sad Details Read by Peter Dann 15:12
67
Chapter 67: A Turret Read by Peter Dann 9:58
68
Chapter 68: A Powerful Man Read by Peter Dann 13:22
69
Chapter 69: The Intrigue Read by Peter Dann 10:06
70
Chapter 70: Tranquility Read by Peter Dann 8:54
71
Chapter 71: The Trial Read by Peter Dann 15:16
72
Chapter 72 Read by Peter Dann 12:05
73
Chapter 73 Read by Peter Dann 10:35
74
Chapter 74 Read by Peter Dann 16:42
75
Chapter 75 Read by Peter Dann 14:56
From LibriVox, read by volunteers and in the public domain. LibriVox page (opens librivox.org) , the text (opens gutenberg.org) , all files on the Internet Archive (opens archive.org) .
