Synopses & Reviews
A magnificent new translation of Stendhals picaresque novel about love and intrigue in post- Napoleonic Europe
Judged by Balzac to be the most important French novel of its time, "The Charterhouse of Parma" is a classic portrait of aristocratic adventure. Fabrizio del Dongo, a headstrong and naive Italian grandee, defies the wrath of his right-wing father and goes to fight for Napoleon. But his dreams of military glory are dashed, drawing him back to Milan. There he becomes embroiled in a series of amorous exploits, fueled by his own impetuous nature and the political chicanery of his aunt and her wily lover. This is a colorful journey through extravagance, duplicity, and youthful daring.
Synopsis:
The Charterhouse of Parma (1839) is a compelling novel of passion and daring. Set at the beginning of the 19th-century in northern Italy, it traces the joyous but ill-starred amorous exploits of a handsome young aristocrat called Fabrice del Dongo. The novel's great achievement is to conjure
up the excitement and romance of youth while never losing sight of the harsh realities which beset the pursuit of happiness. This new translation captures Stendhal's narrative verse, while the Introduction explores the novel's reception and the reasons for its enduring popularity and power.
About the Author
Mari e-Henri Beyle (1783 &1842) had a post in the Ministry of War and followed Napoleon's campaigns before retiring to Italy. As "Stendhal," he wrote novels, literary criticism, and various biographical and autobiographical works.
John Sturrock is a consulting editor for the London Review of Books. His translations for Penguin Classics include Hugo's Notre-Dame of Paris and volume 4 of Proust's In Search of Lost Time.
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