The Charterhouse of Parma
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| Author | Stendhal |
|---|---|
| Original title | La Chartreuse de Parme |
| Country | France |
| Language | French |
| Publisher | |
| Released | 1839 |
The Charterhouse of Parma (1839; French: La Chartreuse de Parme) is one of Stendhal's two acknowledged masterpieces (and only complete novels) along with The Red and the Black.
The novel is often cited as an early example of realism, a stark contrast to the Romantic style popular while Stendhal was writing. It is considered by many authors to be a truly seminal work; Honoré de Balzac considered it the most significant novel of his time, André Gide thought it the greatest French novel ever. Tolstoy was heavily influenced by Stendhal's famous treatment of the Battle of Waterloo, where his protagonist wanders about in confusion as to whether or not he has been in "a real battle".
[edit] Plot summary
The Charterhouse of Parma tells the story of the young Italian noble Fabrice del Dongo and his misadventures during the age of Napoleon. The events center in the town of Parma and a castle on Lake Como, both in Italy, but other sites across Europe are also featured, including the Battle of Waterloo, at which Fabrice fights for Napoleon.
Fabrice's aunt, the femme fatale Gina, Duchess of Sanseverina, and her innamorato, the scheming Prime Minister, Count Mosca, concoct a plot to advance Fabrice's career in the court of Parma. Gina is subject to the unwelcome advances of the obnoxious Prince Ranuce-Erneste IV, which she is engaged in repelling. It could easily be argued that Gina and Count Mosca are the true heroes of the novel.
Fabrice is arrested for murder and imprisoned in the Farnese tower, from which he escapes with a rope; he also has a difficult love affair with his jailer's daughter, Clélia.
Ostensibly a romantic thriller, interwoven with intrigue and military episodes, the novel also features Stendhal's acute grasp of human nature and psychology.
[edit] Trivia
- The set of the novel is largely fictional. The principate cited by Stendahl did not exist at the time in Parma, which was instead part of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza.
- The real 'Certosa di Parma', located at the end of a dirt road on the outskirts of Parma, is now located inside the grounds of an Italian Penitentiary Police School. Although they themselves admit that the Certosa has nothing to do with the Charterhouse described in the novel, it can be visited by presenting ID (Passport) during visiting hours which vary by season.
- the novel was turned into a TV series directed by Mauro Bolognini in 1981, an Italian-French-German co-production.
- The 1964 feature film Prima della rivoluzione, directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, is loosely based on the novel.
[edit] External links
- La Chartreuse De Parme, available at Project Gutenberg. (in French)
