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  • The Red and the Black

  • Written by: Stendhal
  • Narrated by: Davina Porter
  • Length: 20 hrs and 3 mins
  • 3.0 out of 5 stars (4 ratings)

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The Red and the Black

Written by: Stendhal
Narrated by: Davina Porter
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Publisher's Summary

Madame de Renal, a wealthy heiress who married the mayor of Verrieres, suddenly finds herself in love with handsome young Julien Sorel, her children's penniless but ambitious new tutor. After a lifetime of complying with all the social rules of French high society, the unassuming Madame de Renal has always regarded true love as the height of immorality, or the subject of fanciful novels. But after meeting the mysteriously charming Julien, both of their lives are transformed in unimaginable ways. Praised for its unflinching look at the hypocrisy of romantic conquests, Stendhal's The Red and the Black remains one of the 19th century's most affecting and passionate novels, and a major influence on modern fiction.
Public Domain (P)2011 Recorded Books

What the critics say

"Of all the instruments that have ever been used for sketching or writing, Stendhal's traces the most delicate line." (Andre Gide)

What listeners say about The Red and the Black

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Unfortunately not a relevant or relate-able story

I find most 19th fiction to be long winded and in desperate need of editing but at least Dostoevsky and Tolstoy had great stories to get you through the 50 page side bars. For me, the nuisance and judgement between classes in 1830 France is just not that interesting in 2020.
It's well written with some nice sentences every now and then like "Sometimes one must make themselves the hammer so as not to be made the anvil." The narrator's soothing voice and eloquent pace are probably the only reasons I didn't give up a 3rd of the way through.

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Couldn't get into it

Found it very difficult to get into and follow - Her way of writing isn't for me. Couldn't finish the book

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