Bama Monastery

Author: Stendhal (French)
Publisher:
Publication Date: 1997-01-01
Features: The Charterhouse of Parma is set in the life of post-Napoleonic Italy. It reflects the historical process of Italy falling under the rule of Austria after Napoleon's defeat in 1814, as well as the struggles between Italian families and the conflicts of ideas of the era. The protagonist Fabrice, like the author, admired Napoleon, but when he went to join the emperor, he arrived just in time for the Battle of Waterloo. Later, this experience made him a target of pursuit. He joined the church, spending his life in love and revelry, and finally retired to the Charterhouse of Parma, where he died in melancholy. The story is intricate and moving, with vivid characters that highlight the changes of the times. It shares similarities with The Red and the Black, but also has clear differences. Its plot is more tense and legendary, and the author wrote it with a more lyrical style. In fact, this work was never fully completed—the last few chapters only contain a summary of the story—and the entire work was written in just over a month. It was the only successful work the author achieved in his lifetime, as it earned praise from Balzac.