《红与黑》是法国作家斯丹达尔的代表作品，开创了后世“意识流小说”“心理小说”的先河。主人公于连是木匠之子，为实现自己的巨大野心而在等级森严的社会里孤军奋战。当他自以为踏上了飞黄腾达的坦途、得到了越过阶级的爱情时，社会却无情地把他送上了断头台。
Julien Sorel, a carpenter’s son, plans a conquest of society at its highest level, in imitation of his hero Napoleon. When his father dispatches him to be tutor to the local mayor’s children his pride is temporarily dismayed－but he reckons without falling in love. It is the first of several diversions from his determined path; his final, redeeming act of free will diverts him for ever.
Subtitled “A Chronicle of 1830”, Stendhal's depiction of a nation of smug hypocrites scandalized contemporary readers, who recognized themselves or their peers and felt uncomfortable with the energy, imagination, and sincerity of a hero so patently inspired by their lately deposed Emperor.