《红与黑》是十九世纪法国批判现实主义文学的代表作品。《红与黑》的主人公于连，是韦里埃小城一木匠的儿子，年轻英俊、意志坚强、精明能干，从小希望借助个人奋斗跻身上流社会。王朝复辟后，于连通过穿上红军服从军而飞黄腾达的道路被堵塞，只好决定穿上黑色教会服装向上爬。去市长家当家庭教师是于连踏入社会的第一步，了于对市长的报复心理和试练自己胆量的冒险心态，于连和市长夫人之间产生了暖味关系。事情败露后，于连进入贝桑松神学院既而又随比拉尔院长来到巴黎，成为德· 拉莫尔侯爵的秘书。由于自己的聪明和个性，他不仅受到了侯爵赏识而且赢得了侯爵小姐的芳心。二人秘密结婚，拉莫尔先生对这门婚事虽则暴跳如雷，但也无可奈何，于连也因此得到了骑士称号、中尉军衔和二万零六百法郎年收入的庄园。好景不长，正当于连踌躇满志之际，他却又陷入了贵族阶级和教会所设下的圈套，最终被送上了断头台，成为统治阶级阴谋的牲品。

主人公于连是小业主的儿子，凭借小聪明与市长夫人勾搭成奸，事情败露后被迫进入神学院。后在巴黎当侯爵的私人秘书，很快得到赏识与重用，与此同时，他又与侯爵的女儿有了私情。最后在教会的策划下，市长夫人被逼写了一封告密信揭发他，使他的飞黄腾达毁于一旦。他在气愤之下，开枪击伤了市长夫人，被判死刑，上了断头台……

Introduction

Note onthetext

A chronology of Stendhal

BooK ONE

 Chapter 1 A smalltown

 Chapter 2 Amayor

 Chapter 3 Care ofthe poor

 Chapter 4 Father and son

 Chapter 5 Striking a bargain

 Chapter 6 Boredom

 Chapter 7 Elective affinities

 Chapter 8 Minor events

 Chapter 9 An evening in the country

 Chapter 10 A generous heart and a meagre fortune

 Chapter 11 In the evening

 Chapter 12 A journey

 Chapter 13 Openwork stockings

 Chapter 14 A pair of English scissors

 Chapter 15 The crowing of the cock

 Chapter 16 The day after

 Chapter 17 First deputy

 Chapter 18 Aking inVerrieres

 Chapter 19 Thinking brings suffering

 Chapter 20 Anonymous letters

 Chapter 21 Dialogue with a master

 Chapter 22 Modes of behaviour in 1830

 Chapter 23 The woes of a civil servant

 Chapter 24 A capital city

 Chapter 25 The seminary

 Chapter 26 The world or what the rich man lacks

 Chapter 27 First experience of life

 Chapter 28 A procession

 Chapter 29 First promotion

 Chapter 30 A man of ambition

BooK TWO

 Chapter 1 Pleasures of the countryside

 Chapter 2 Entry into society

 Chapter 3 The first steps

 Chapter 4 The H6teldelaMole

 Chapter 5 Sensitivity and a great lady's piety

 Chapter 6 A matter of accent

 Chapter 7 An attack of gout

 Chapter 8 What decoration distinguishes a man?

 Chapter 9 The ball

 Chapter 10 Queen Marguerite

 Chapter 11 The power of a young lady

 Chapter 12 Might he be a Danton?

 Chapter 13 Aplot

 Chapter 14 A young lady's thoughts

 Chapter 15 Is it a plot?

 Chapter 16 One o’clock in the morning

 Chapter 17 An old sword

 Chapter 18 Cruel moments

 Chapter 19 TheOperaBouffe

 Chapter 20 The Japanese vase

 Chapter 21 The secret memorandum

 Chapter 22 The discussion

 Chapter 23 The clergy,forests and freedom

 Chapter 24 Strasburg

 Chapter 25 The Ministry of Virtue

 Chapter 26 Propriety in love

 Chapter 27 The best positions in the Church

 Chapter 28 Manon Lescaut

 Chapter 29 Boredom

 Chapter 30 Abox attheOperaBouffe

 Chapter 31 Frightening her

 Chapter 32 The tiger

 Chapter 33 The infernal torment of weakness

 Chapter 34 A man of intelligence

 Chapter 35 A storm

 Chapter 36 Sorry details

 Chapter 37 Akeep

 Chapter 38 Apowerful man

 Chapter 39 Politicking

 Chapter 40 Tranquillity

 Chapter 41 The trial

 Chapter 42

 Chapter 43

 Chapter 44

 Chapter 45

Explanatory Notes