Red and Black

Stendhal, the pseudonym of Marie-Henri Beyle (1783–1842), was a prolific writer in many genres, from art criticism and travel writing to various styles and modes of fiction. Red and Black (1830), his most enduring achievement, is considered by many to be one of the greatest masterpieces of nineteenth-century fiction. Raymond N. MacKenzie is professor of English at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. His previous translations include Stendhal’s Italian Chronicles, Barbey d’Aurevilly’s Diaboliques, Lamartine’s Graziella, and Balzac’s Lost Illusions and Lost Souls (all published by the University of Minnesota Press).

• ContentsTranslator’s Introduction. Chronicling the Nineteenth Century: Stendhal, Politics, and the NovelRaymond N. MacKenzieRed and BlackPublisher’s NoteBook IBook IINotes

"Despite being written and set in the 19th century, Red and Black has all the hallmarks of a modern novel. Stendhal enjoys recounting his young protagonist’s adventures, and that enjoyment is contagious.   Raymond Mackenzie makes good use of his Translator’s Introduction and the copious end-notes to explain historical details, point out Stendhal’s propensity to invent and falsely attribute chapter epigraphs, and educate the reader on the nuances of language. "-On the Seawall   "An elegant stylist and thoughtful critic, MacKenzie has an excellent ear for what makes Stendhal’s dry-as-extra-brut-champagne style so effective as a deglazing liquid."-Rain Taxi