The Charterhouse of Parma
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Published in 1839, The Charterhouse of Parma follows the fortunes of Fabrice del Dongo, a young Italian aristocrat whose romantic imagination carries him into the turbulent aftermath of Napoleon’s reign. From the battlefield of Waterloo to the intrigues of the princely court of Parma, Fabrice encounters political manoeuvring, imprisonment and complicated affairs of the heart.
Stendhal combines political comedy with psychological subtlety, capturing a world where personal feeling is continually compromised by power and convention. The novel’s vivid characters, swift narrative and sceptical treatment of authority distinguish it as a major achievement of European realism. Admired by later writers for its freedom and narrative energy, it offers a richly ironic vision of Italy’s aristocratic society.
From the book
“Politics in a work of literature is like a pistol shot in the middle of a concert.”
— Stendhal, The Charterhouse of Parma
On The Charterhouse of Parma
“One of the great novels of the nineteenth century.”
— A longstanding critical assessment of Stendhal’s fiction