The former, after all, have had little cause to find the present campaign of interest: Although George W. Just don't miss this book! Oh, the other one of my two favorites is The Vicar of Wakefield.Al Gore's recent announcement on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' that his favorite novel is Stendhal's 1830 classic 'The Red and the Black' comes as a gratifying vindication for aficionados of high literature and for amoral sociopaths everywhere. I haven't sampled the unabridged editions, but have read some uncomplimentary reviews of them, so perhaps this abridged version is the one that will please. This peasant is flying high, and no matter that he must be undone, the reader is left with admiration for him and only a few chuckles at his gumption and daring.

A wonder-and the reader wonders at the incredible intrigue Stendhal has created. He is a man for all seasons and a Leonardo, too.

Eventually, he wins his fine lady, impresses her father, manages the older rman's business, travels to London to present a plan for restoring the old aristocratic order, and establishes a reputation for himself in battle. The local priest has recommended him to the woman's husband as a fine Latin scholar, and he impresses the family with his ability to recite the entire Bible. He practices on a local mayor's wife while he tutors her children in Latin. He is the epitome of native peasant intelligence, with an incompatible dream: to possess a fine Parisian lady. He doesn't miss a trick, reads others like a book, and manages them for his purpose of getting ahead.

I have not listened to a word of it since, but witness here how well I remember it. Even after I bought other audio books, I continued with this one and left others unopened for a good while. I bought it about ten years ago and went to bed with it every night. I can't believe some of the negative listener reviews of other editions of this masterpiece! This abridged version is fabulous.

The scarlet and the black stendhal