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Content snapshot
Flag an inaccuracy →What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.
Violence
Some
Julien shoots Madame de Rênal; his execution
Language
None
No profanity
Sexual Content
Some
Two adulterous affairs; seduction as strategy
Substance Use
None
No substance use
Emotional Intensity
Some
Themes of ambition, hypocrisy, class, and the cost of passion
What this book is about
Stendhal's 1830 novel follows Julien Sorel, an ambitious young man of humble origin, as he seduces his employer's wife and then a Parisian noblewoman, in pursuit of social advancement in Restoration France. Features adultery, violence (Julien shoots Madame de Rênal), and psychological acuity. For older teens and adults.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Adultery
Violence (shooting)
Execution
Reader Verification
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