Stendhal introduces social realism to the French…

Stendhal introduces social realism to the French novel in his brilliant 1830 masterpiece, The Red and the Black, whose major theme is the individual against society, and whose title refers to the choices open to his protagonist: army or church, radicalism or reaction, courage or hypocrisy.

Having returned to government service after the July Revolution, he is appointed to a minor consular position in Trieste.