Stendhal: biography and creativity. Interesting facts from life

True fame came to the author of "Red and Black" only after his death. During Stendhal's lifetime, little was read of his books. However, the work of this prose writer was appreciated by such masters of the word as Balzac, Goethe, Byron, Pushkin. The biography of the writer Stendhal is set out in this article.

early years

Henri-Marie Bayle was born in 1783 into a family that took seriously the pernicious prejudices of the nobility and church that justified class privileges. Catholicism was highly revered as the father of the future writer. Henri-Marie Bayle himself, having matured, hated the church.

So, the creator of "Red and Black" was born into a wealthy bourgeois family. From childhood memories, he brought out the images of two houses. The first was unpleasant, with dark staircases and intolerable surroundings. The second one is bright and cozy. The first house belonged to the father of Henri-Marie Beyle. The second - to the grandfather of the future writer, Dr. Gagnon.

Sheruben Bayle - the father of our hero - made a career, had a good position in society. He served as a prosecutor, a lawyer in parliament, which brought him a good income. He was devoted body and soul to the "old regime". Henri-Marie Bayle - the only representative of his respected family - became a republican, in which the aforementioned maternal grandfather played some role. Gagnon was a man of progressive views, it was he who introduced his grandson to the work of Voltaire and other enlighteners. The doctor had a rare pedagogical talent.

In 1794 the street where native home the future author of The Parma Monastery and other remarkable works, was renamed in honor of Rousseau, a writer who once stayed here back in the sixties. Bayle Sr. was far from being an idle man. He worked tirelessly from the age of seventeen, studied at the same time, passed exams in law, and only married at the age of 34. But this is not about him, but about his brilliant son, who in childhood experienced a severe tragedy - the death of his mother. This event became a key event in his life.

The death of his mother made Henri an atheist and an anti-clerical. In addition, her departure provoked hostility towards her father. However, Stendhal never loved his parent, which he wrote about more than once in his memoirs. Sheruben practiced rather harsh methods of education, loved him more as a successor to his family name than as a son.

Hated teacher

Henri's first mentor was Jean Ryan. However, Pierre Joubert was before him, but he quickly died. Ryan was a Jesuit, gave the boy Latin lessons, forced him to read the Bible, which caused even greater dislike for the church. "He was small thin man with a deceitful look, ”is one of Stendhal’s statements about his teacher.

The writer's childhood fell on a time when the church still had considerable weight in politics and public life. Ryan taught his student the theory of the universe. But only those that were approved by the church, and they had nothing to do with science. In his lessons, the boy was frankly bored. “I became angry, gloomy, unhappy,” said the French writer Stendhal about his childhood. Only the educated and well-read grandfather Gagnon enjoyed the favor of young Henri.

WITH early years Henri-Marie Bayle read a lot. He secretly entered his father's library and took another "dangerous" book from the topmost shelf. It is worth saying that Don Quixote was also among the banned literature. What was the danger of the work of Cervantes, it is difficult to say. Perhaps the book of the great Spaniard did not correspond to mores catholic church. My father threatened to confiscate the book about the cunning hidalgo. Meanwhile, the grandfather secretly advised the boy to read Molière.

Mathematics

In a school located in his hometown, Bayle mastered only Latin. At least, the writer claimed so in his memoirs. In addition, he studied philosophy, mathematics, and logic.

In 1799, Bayle left for the capital, where he intended to continue his education. The meaning of life for him a few years before the move was mathematics. First, to enter the Polytechnic School meant to leave the hated father's house. Second, mathematics is devoid of ambiguity. Stendhal, whose books began from childhood, hated hypocrisy. But he did not enter the Polytechnic School. A coup d'etat took place, which carried the young man into a whirlpool of completely different events.

Paris

In November 1797, there was a coup in France. The directory was deprived of power. The new government was headed by Napoleon. This event marked the end of the revolutionary period. A despotic regime was established, Bonaparte declared himself First Consul. Henri Beyle, like thousands of other young people, was quite concerned about grandiose historical events.

Upon arrival in Paris, he settled in a hostel from the Polytechnic School and after a few days he realized that he hated the capital. He was annoyed by crowded streets, inedible food, the lack of familiar landscapes. Bayle realized that he was attracted to studying at a Parisian institution only because he saw it as a way to escape from his parental home. Mathematics was just a tool. And he changed his mind about entering the Polytechnic School.

Bayle entered the service in the army - in the dragoon regiment. Influential relatives procured young man destination in northern Italy. The future writer fell in love with this country with all his heart.

Dramaturgy

Bayle soon became disillusioned with Napoleon's policies. In 1802 he resigned and went to Paris, where he lived for three years. In the capital, he took up self-education: he studied philosophy, the history of literature, English language. During this period, he had a dream to become a playwright. By the way, love theatrical art she mastered it in adolescence, while living in her father's house. Once in his hometown a Parisian troupe arrived on tour. Henri not only did not miss a single performance, but also fell in love with an actress from the capital. He tracked her, languished, dreamed of meeting her, in a word, he knew unrequited love.

Return to the army

Bayle did not become the "Second Molière". In addition, in Paris, he fell in love again, and again with an actress. The future Stendhal followed her to Marseille. And in 1825 he returned to serve in the army, which allowed him to visit Germany and Austria. On campaigns, the commissary officer found time to write notes. Some of them were lost while crossing the Berezina.

Surprisingly, Stendhal had no combat experience. Only the experience of an observer, which later came in handy in his literary work. He visited Smolensk, Orsha, Vyazma. He witnessed the Battle of Borodino. I saw burning Moscow.

Italy

After the fall of Napoleon, the hero of today's story went to the region, where he always felt happy and inspired. He spent seven years in Milan. Here Stendhal wrote his first works, among them The History of Painting in Italy. At this time, he was fond of the work of the famous German art historian and even took a pseudonym in honor of his hometown.

In Italy, Bayle became close to the Republicans. Here he met Matilda Visconti - a woman who left a deep mark on his soul. She was married to a Polish general. Besides, she died early.

In the twenties, persecution of the Republicans began in Italy, among which there were many friends of Stendhal. He had to return to his homeland. which was installed in the north of Italy, aroused in him an acute dislike. Later, Stendhal will reflect the events he witnessed in the 1920s in the book The Parma Monastery.

Creativity Stendhal

Paris met the writer unfriendly. Rumors about his connections with the Italian republicans have already penetrated into the French capital. Nevertheless, he regularly published his works, albeit under a false name. The author of these notes was determined only after a hundred years. In 1823, the essays "Racine and Shakespeare", "On Love" were published. By then, Stendhal had gained a reputation as a witty debater: he visited regularly.

In 1827, Stendhal's first novel, Armans, was published. Several works in a realistic spirit were also created. In 1830, the writer completed work on the novel Red and Black. This work is discussed in more detail below.

public service

In 1830, France was established Stendhal's position changed for the better: he entered the service as consul in Trieste. He was later transferred to Civitavecchia, where he worked until last days own life. In this small port city, the French writer was lonely and bored. The bureaucratic routine left little time for creativity. However, he often visited Rome.

During an extended vacation in Paris, Stendhal wrote several notes and completed his last novel. His work attracted the famous novelist Balzac.

Last years

There are several versions regarding the cause of the writer's death. According to one of them, Stendhal died of syphilis. It is known that he for a long time was ill, used potassium iodide and a mercury preparation as therapeutic agents. At times he was so weak that he could not write. The version about syphilis has no confirmation. It is worth saying that until the beginning of the 20th century, the diagnosis of this disease had not yet been developed.

In March 1842, the writer passed out on the street. Died a few hours later. Most likely, Stendhal died of a stroke. A classic of world literature was buried at the Montmartre cemetery.

List of works by Stendhal:

• "Armans".
• Vanina Vanini.
• "Red and black".
• "Parma monastery".

This list, of course, does not include a huge number of articles, dedicated to art. The writer expressed his aesthetic credo in works about the work of Shakespeare, Racine, Walter Scott.

"Red and black"

The question of the symbolism of the colors in the title is still open to this day. The most common opinion: the combination of red and black means a choice between a career in the church and the army. The work is based on a story read by Stendhal in a newspaper. The book "Red and Black" became widely known only in late XIX century.

"Parma cloister"

The novel was published in 1839. At the beginning of the work, the author describes the delight of the Italians caused by the liberation from the Habsburgs, in which leading role played by the writer's compatriots. But soon, in the north of the country, the persecution of freethinkers and traitors begins, one of which is the main character. There are many in the novel battle scenes. The author showed the war in all its absurdity, which for that time was a literary innovation.

We offer you to get acquainted with the life and work of the great writer. He signed his creations "Stendhal". The biography of this writer, as well as his works, is of interest to many today. However, not everyone knows that his real name was The writer sometimes tried to appropriate title of nobility, sometimes signing as "Henri de Bayle". Probably so would Julien Sorel, the famous hero of his novel.

Origin of Stendhal

Stendhal came from a family of respectable bourgeois, whose biography is reflected in the works he created. In Grenoble, in a law office, his father served. In 1783, the future writer was born. His mother died after 7 years, leaving her son to be raised by his father and aunt Serafi. Stendhal hated both. His father was a suspicious, stern and callous man. Stendhal owed his early education priests. It has become main reason his anticlericalism. In the confrontation with his father and spiritual mentors, the character of the writer was formed.

Character and personality of Stendhal

Very narcissistic, impulsive, sensual, critical and undisciplined was Stendhal. His biography is interesting not only for events in life, but also for the inner world of this writer. People who knew him closely said that he was secretive, loved loneliness and solitude. Stendhal had a subtle and vulnerable soul. Hatred of tyranny was one of the main traits of his character. At the same time, Stendhal doubted the liberation movements. He sympathized with the Carbonari and even helped them, but did not believe that their activities would lead to positive results. There was no unity between the coal miners: some dreamed of a republic, others dreamed of seeing a monarchy in their country.

Education at the Central School and time spent in Paris

His maternal grandfather, a doctor by profession, encouraged his passion for literature. This was a man with a good artistic taste. When Stendhal was 13 years old, he was sent to study at the Central School, located in Grenoble. Here he excelled in mathematics. He was even predicted to study at the Paris Polytechnic School as an engineer. In 1799, Stendhal arrived there, the day after the coup d'etat, after which Napoleon became the ruler of France. Bayle, forgetting his intention to become an engineer, rushed headlong into the imperial adventure that swept over the country. Daru, a distant relative of the future writer, who later became secretary of state was in great favor with Napoleon. He secured a church position for Stendhal, which he took at the military headquarters. However, this work turned out to be too boring for him. Young Henri, who was only 17 years old, received the knowledge of sub-lieutenant the very next year. He was sent to Italy. At that time, the French army was stationed there.

Life in Italy

Bayle did not know anything about this country, which later became his second home, as well as the scene of one of his most famous and major novels. Everything here delighted the young man: the painting of Correggio, the music of Cimarosa, Italian opera. He also found the Italian temperament attractive. He seemed to him more resolute, passionate and less civilized than French. Italy, especially Milan and Rome, became so fond of Bayle that he even wanted to carve the following words on his gravestone: "Enrico Bayle, Milanese." Bayle fell in love with local women. From now on private life his became a chronicle of mostly love affairs.

public service

The following years were very active. Stendhal, whose biography and work we are interested in, in 1806 again entered the service, taking up an administrative post in Brunswick, occupied by the French. Here he began to teach German. Stendhal was in good society. The respect that surrounded him flattered him, but he was rather bored. Bayle later traveled extensively in Austria and Germany. He was sent to Vienna on a government mission. He also went to Russia after the emperor. In Russia, Bayle became an eyewitness to the battles of Borodino and Smolensk. He was also present at the fire of Moscow. He then retreated to Western Europe along with the French army. The power of Napoleon was collapsing, and Bayle left France when Paris fell. He realized that his career in the circles of power was over.

Return to literary activity

The state was now ruled by the Bourbons. Bayle returned to literary activity. From that moment on, he became known as Frederik Stendhal. A brief biography of his these years is marked by the creation of many works. His writings written in the 1820s were quite diverse. Among them were the biographies of great composers (in 1817 - the book "The Life of Haydn, Mozart and Metastasio", in 1824 - "The Life of Rossini"); and the 1812 treatise "On Love"; and A History of Painting in Italy, written in 1817; and Walks in Rome, 1829.

In addition, he published various articles in magazines in London and Paris. This is an abbreviated biography of Stendhal of these years. His life depended on odd jobs in France, England and Italy.

Transfer to Civitavecchia

A bourgeois monarch was placed on the throne in 1830. Now before Stendhal opened the opportunity to again engage in public service. Then, in 1830, he became consul in Trieste. Here the Austrian authorities did not like his reputation as a radical. Stendhal was transferred to the papal state, in Civitavecchia. He was given a more modest salary than before. But from here it was a stone's throw to beloved Rome.

Deterioration of health and further biography of Stendhal

We briefly talked about why Stendhal was forced to be content with the position of consul, being far from his homeland. He remained in this position until the end of his life, although he often had to be absent for long periods due to poor health. Because of him, he often took a long vacation and returned to his homeland. One of them lasted for three whole years (from 1836 to 1839). The last years of this writer's life were especially difficult. Even in his youth, he contracted syphilis. This disease made itself felt by weakness and the inability to fully work.

Novels "Red and Black" and "Red and White"

In the last year of the reign of Charles X, the novel "Red and Black" was written. In 1831, by the time this book was published, it was already obsolete, at least as far as criticism of the Bourbons was concerned. However, the name of Stendhal today is associated primarily with this novel. It was created based on real events in 1830. Literary critics for a long time could not answer the question why the author gave such a name to his work. Both of these colors are reminiscent of death, bloodshed and tragedy. And the combination of black and cool is also associated with the upholstery of the coffin. On tragic ending the very title of the work sets readers up.

5 years after the creation of this novel, Stendhal wrote "Red and White". It is no coincidence that the titles of the two works are similar. In addition, the content and title of the new novel explain to some extent the title of the previous one. Most likely, by black, the author did not mean death at all, but the low origin of Julien Sorel, the main character. Bely pointed to the elite, whose representative was the protagonist of the 2nd novel, Lucien Leven. And red is a symbol of the troubled time in which these two characters lived.

New works

Stendhal over the next ten years created 2 autobiographical works: in 1832 - "Memoirs of an Egoist", in 1835-36 - "The Life of Henri Brular", in 1834-35. - the novel "Lucien Levene", which remained unfinished. Not wanting to risk his consular position again, he did not dare to publish his writings during his lifetime. In 1839, Stendhal's second masterpiece (after Red and Black) was published - The Parma Monastery. This is a story of intrigue and adventure taking place in Italy.

Return to Paris and death

The writer in 1841 again came to Paris, where he had a stroke. However, he continued to compose until his death, dictating his works. Stendhal could no longer write them down on his own. His biography ends in March 1842, when he died of a stroke after a long illness. Stendhal died in Paris.

What direction in literature does the writer Frederik Stendhal belong to?

The biography you just read gives general idea about the life of Stendhal. And what are the features of his work? Let's answer this question too. The path of this writer to fame was long. Stendhal said that he writes his works "for the lucky few". He predicted that no earlier than 1880, glory would come to him. And Stendhal was right. Perhaps his greatest failure was that he did not fit into one or another literary stereotype that existed in his time. What separated Stendhal from 18th century authors was his love for selfish heroes like Napoleon. However, he could not be called a romantic writer either. This author lacked both the sentimentality of Lamartine and the epic scope of Hugo. Only when these figures left the literary pedestal did it become clear what the true greatness of the writer we are interested in lies in - in psychological realism. Thanks to him, Stendhal became famous all over the world.

Biography, summary works by this author critical articles about him - all this is of interest to many connoisseurs of his work today. Undoubtedly, Stendhal is one of the classics French literature. In order to better acquaint the reader with him, we created the above biography of Stendhal. Chronological table life and work, to which information about him is limited in some textbooks, does not give an idea of ​​\u200b\u200bhis personality, misses many significant details. The biography you have just read is free from these shortcomings.

Frederik Stendhal is one of the most significant figures in world literature. He is not only the author of novels, biographies, aphorisms and cycle travel notes in Italy, dedicated to various areas of life, but also the founder of " psychological novels when realism began to address the state inner peace ordinary person with their own problems.

Childhood and youth

Marie-Henri Bayle (this is the real name of the writer) was born on January 23, 1783 in the small town of Grenoble in southeastern France. His father, Sheruben Beyle, was a lawyer. Mother Henriette Bayle died when the boy was only 7 years old. The upbringing of the son fell on the shoulders of the father and aunt.

But they did not develop a warm trusting relationship. Mentor and educator of the future famous French writer became grandfather Henri Gagnon. Stendhal's quote about him:

“I was brought up entirely by my dear grandfather, Henri Gagnon. This rare person once made a pilgrimage to Ferney to see Voltaire, and was well received by him.

The boy came to the local central school with an extensive store of knowledge. The home education given by his grandfather was so good that Marie-Henri studied there for only 3 years. At school he great attention devoted to Latin, exact sciences and philosophy. In addition, he closely followed the French Revolution and fortifications.

In 1799, Stendhal left school and went to Paris. His goal was originally to enter the Polytechnic School, but the ideas of the revolution did not leave his mind. Therefore, the young man goes to serve in the army, where he receives the rank of sub-lieutenant. After some time, thanks to family ties, the writer was transferred to Italy. From that time on, love for this country begins, which will sweep through his whole life and become one of the main themes of his work.

At one time, Marie-Henri visits Germany and Austria. Each trip was commemorated by taking notes detailing the arts, especially music, painting, and poetry. The third part of these notes was irretrievably lost while crossing the Berezina.

However, after some time, the situation changes dramatically. Stendhal was disappointed: Napoleon's policy in fact turned out to be completely different. So he decides to retire from the army and return to France. After that, the writer settled in Paris. He devotes his time to the study of philology (including English), as well as philosophy.

Creation

After Napoleon fell, the Bourbon dynasty returned to the French throne. Stendhal refused to recognize this power, so he leaves his homeland and leaves for Milan. He will stay there for 7 years. At this time, they are born early works writer: "Biographies of Haydn, Mozart and Metastasio", "History of Painting in Italy", "Rome, Naples and Florence in 1817". This is how the pseudonym appeared, which in fact is the hometown of Johann Winckelmann - Stendal. He would come to the realistic direction only in the 1920s.

During his life in Italy, Stendhal managed to get closer to the society of the Carbonari. But because of the persecution, he had to urgently return to his homeland. At first, things went badly: the writer gained a dubious reputation, because unflattering rumors about friendship with representatives of the Carbonari reached France. The writer had to be as careful as possible in order to continue literary activity. In 1822, the book "On Love" was published, changing the idea of ​​the writer's personality.

Debut realistic novel"Armans" was published in 1827, and a couple of years later - the short story "Vanina Vanini", which tells about the forbidden relationship between the daughter of an Italian aristocrat and an arrested carbonari. There is a 1961 film adaptation directed by Roberto Rossellini. Next to this work is the “Abbates of Castro”, which is part of the Italian chronicles.

In 1830, Stendhal wrote one of his most famous novels, Red and Black. The plot was based on a story that got on the pages of newspapers in the section of the criminal chronicle. Although the work was later called a classic, in fact, Stendhal had a hard time with creativity. He did not have a permanent job and money, which negatively affected his peace of mind. Today, the novel is very famous, it was taken 7 times for filming films and TV shows.

In the same year, a new life begins for the writer. He enters the service of the consulate of Trieste, followed by a transfer to Civitavecchia, where the novelist will stay for the rest of his life. He practically abandoned literature. The work took a lot of time, and the city did not provide inspiration for creativity. by the most significant work during this period was "Parma Monastery" - the last completed novel published during the life of the writer. The rapidly developing disease took the last strength.

Personal life

In his personal life, the writer was very unlucky. Women who met Stendhal on life path didn't stay long. He was very loving, but his feelings often remained unrequited. The writer did not want to tie the knot, because he was already firmly connected with literature. He didn't have children.

A deep imprint in the writer's heart was left by the wife of General Jan Dembowski (a Pole by nationality) - Matilda Viscontini. It is to her that the book "About Love" is dedicated. Matilda became colder towards Beyle, and the fire inside him was kindled. It is not known how this story would have ended, but Stendhal was forced to leave for England, hiding from the authorities. Viscontini is dying at this time. She was thirty-five years old.

Death

Every year the novelist got worse. Doctors diagnosed him with syphilis, forbade him to travel outside the city and keep a pen to write works. Stendhal can no longer write books on his own, he needs help. Therefore, he dictates his works to be transferred to paper. Prescribed medicines gradually took away the last forces. But a week before the fatal day, the dying man was allowed to go to Paris to say goodbye.

Stendhal dies in the French capital while walking through the streets of the city, in 1842. in a mystical way he himself predicts such a death a few years before. Today, the cause of death, scientists indicate a stroke. It was the second blow, so the body could not stand it. In his will, the writer declared last will regarding the headstone. There should be an epitaph in Italian:

"Arrigo Bayle. Milanese. He wrote, he loved, he lived.

Stendhal's will was fulfilled only half a century later, when his grave was identified in the Montmartre cemetery, in the northern region of Paris.

Quotes by Stendhal

"The flexibility of the mind can replace beauty."

"You can't be called a politician if you don't have patience and the ability to control your anger."

“Almost all the unhappiness in life comes from a false idea of ​​what happens to us. Therefore, a deep knowledge of people and a sound judgment of events brings us closer to happiness.

“Romanticism is the art of giving nations such literary works, which at state of the art their customs and beliefs can give them the greatest pleasure.

Bibliography

• 1827 - "Armans"
• 1829 - "Vanina Vanini"
• 1830 - "Red and Black"
• 1832 - "Memoirs of an Egoist"
• 1834 - Lucien Leven"
• 1835 - "The Life of Henri Brular"
• 1839 - "Lamiel"
• 1839 - "Excessive favor is fatal"
• 1839 - "Parma Convent"

Studying the difficult, in many ways controversial biography Stendhal, it becomes clear that he was a courageous, persistent and passionate person.

Henri Marie Bayle was born in Grenoble, a beautiful city in the south-east of France. This event in the family of the lawyer Sheruben Beyle and his wife Adelaide-Henriette Beyle happened on January 23, 1783.

Unfortunately, when the boy was 7 years old, his mother died suddenly. Education fell on the shoulders of the father and aunt of the future writer. However, according to Stendhal himself, the main person in his life was his grandfather, Henri Gagnon. Only to him did he owe his upbringing, education, extensive knowledge and, most importantly, the ability to think.

Having received sufficient home education, Stendhal went to study at the local Central School. He did not stay there for long - only three years, and after that he was released to the capital of France to enter the Polytechnic School. But he was not destined to become a student. The coup of 18 Brumaire prevented the implementation of his plans.

Inspired by the courage and heroism of the young Napoleon Bonaparte, who led that conspiracy, he entered the military service. Stendhal served in the dragoon regiment for two years and retired with the intention of returning to Paris and engaging exclusively in education and literary activities.

Paris

The French capital met him favorably and gave him three years to receive a real education. He studied English, philosophy, literary history, wrote and read a lot. In the same period, he became a staunch enemy of the church and everything connected with mysticism and the other world.

In 1805, Stendhal was forced to return to military service. From 1806-1809, he participated in all European battles of the Napoleonic army. In 1812, voluntarily, on his own initiative, he went to war with Russia. He survived battle of Borodino, with his own eyes watched the death of Moscow and, together with the remnants of the once great Napoleonic army, fled through the Berezina.

The French writer has always rightly admired the spirit and valor of the Russian people. In 1814 he moved to Italy.

Creation

The writer lived in Milan for seven years. IN short biography Frederick Stendhal noted that it was during this period that he wrote his first serious works: “The Lives of Haydn, Mozart and Metastasio”, “History of Italian Painting”, “Rome, Naples and Florence” and many others. There, in Italy, for the first time his books began to be published under the pseudonym "Stendhal".

In 1821, due to the policy of violence and intimidation prevailing in Italy, he was forced to flee to his homeland. In Paris, going through a difficult financial situation, he worked as a literary and art critic. This did not make it easier for him, but it helped to stay afloat.

In 1930 he was appointed to a public position - the French consul in Trieste. In the same year, his most famous novel, Red and Black, was published.

On March 23, 1842, the classic of French literature died. It happened on the street while walking.

Other biography options

• Literally five months before his death, he wrote in his diary that, most likely, death would overtake him during a walk. And so it happened.
• The day after the death of the French writer, newspapers wrote that the funeral of the German poet Friedrich Stendhal, unknown in wide circles, had taken place.
• In Italy, Stendhal was in close contact with the great English poet.

(23.01.1783 - 23.03.1842)

Stendhal's destiny was posthumous fame. His friend and executor, Romain Colombe, undertook a complete edition of his works in the 1850s, including journal articles and correspondence. Since that time, Stendhal entered French literature as one of its largest representatives.

The school of French realists of the 50s recognized him, along with Balzac, as their teacher; I. Ten, one of the inspirers of French naturalism, wrote an enthusiastic article about him (1864); E. Zola considered him a representative of a new novel, in which a person is studied in a deep connection with him public environment. Began scientific study Stendhal, mainly his biography. In the 1880s, his autobiographical works, rough sketches, unfinished stories that R. Colomb did not include in his edition. Already in the 19th century, his novels were translated into many languages.

In Russia, Stendhal was appreciated very early, earlier than in his homeland. A.S. Pushkin and some of his contemporaries paid attention to "Red and Black". L. Tolstoy spoke very positively about him, who was especially struck by the military scenes of the Parma Monastery. Gorky considered him one of the greatest masters of the European novel. IN Soviet Russia all the works of Stendhal were translated into Russian, up to unfinished passages, and his novels and short stories were reprinted dozens of times. His main works have been translated into many other languages ​​of the countries. former USSR. Stendhal is undoubtedly one of our most beloved foreign writers.

Henri Marie Bayle was born in the south of France, in the city of Grenoble. Stendhal's father, Scherubin Beyle, a lawyer at the local parliament, and grandfather, Henri Gagnon, a doctor and public figure, like most of the French intelligentsia of the XVIII century, were fascinated by the ideas of the Enlightenment. Father had in his library " big encyclopedia sciences and arts" compiled by Diderot and D-Alembert, and was fond of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Grandfather was a fan of Voltaire and a convinced Voltairian. But with the beginning French Revolution(1789) their views changed greatly. The family was wealthy, and the deepening of the revolution frightened her. Stendhal's father even had to go into hiding, and he ended up on the side of the old regime.

After the death of Stendhal's mother, the family went into mourning for a long time. The father and grandfather fell into piety, and the upbringing of the boy was transferred to the priest, who was hiding under the hospitable roof of Bailey. This priest, Abbot Raljan, whom Stendhal recalled with indignation in his memoirs, tried in vain to instill religious views in his pupil.

In 1796, Stendhal entered the Central School that opened in Grenoble. The task of these schools, established in some provincial towns, was to introduce state and secular education in the republic in order to replace the former - private and religious. They were supposed to arm the younger generation useful knowledge and ideology corresponding to the interests of the emerging bourgeois state. IN Central School Stendhal became interested in mathematics and at the end of the course was sent to Paris to enter the Polytechnic School, which trained military engineers and artillery officers.

But he never entered the Polytechnic School. He arrived in Paris a few days after the coup of 18 Brumaire, when the young General Bonaparte seized power and declared himself First Consul. Preparations immediately began for a campaign in Italy, where reaction again triumphed and Austrian rule was established. Stendhal was enrolled as a sub-lieutenant in a dragoon regiment and went to his duty station in Italy. He served in the army for more than two years, however, he did not have to participate in a single battle. He then resigned and returned to Paris in 1802 with the secret intention of becoming a writer.

For almost three years, Stendhal lived in Paris, stubbornly studying philosophy, literature and English. In fact, only here he receives his first real education. He gets acquainted with modern French sensualistic and materialistic philosophy and becomes a staunch enemy of the church and all mysticism in general. While Bonaparte was preparing the imperial throne for himself, Stendhal hated the monarchy for life. In 1799, during the coup of 18 Brumaire, he was pleased that General Bonaparte "became king of France"; in 1804, the coronation of Napoleon, for which the Pope arrived in Paris, seems to Stendhal an obvious "union of all deceivers."

Meanwhile, I had to think about making money. Many of the comedies started by Stendhal remained unfinished, and he decided to earn a living by commerce. After serving for about a year in some trading enterprise in Marseilles and feeling forever disgusted with trade, he decided to return to military service. In 1805, continuous wars with the European coalition began again, and Stendhal was enrolled in the commissariat. Since that time, he continuously travels around Europe following the army of Napoleon. In 1806 he joins with French troops to Berlin, in 1809 - to Vienna. In 1811 he spends his holidays in Italy, where he conceives his book History of Painting in Italy. In 1812, Stendhal own will goes to the army that has already invaded Russia, enters Moscow, sees the fire of the ancient Russian capital and flees with the remnants of the army to France, retaining memories of the heroic resistance of the Russian troops and the valor of the Russian people for a long time. In 1814, he was present at the occupation of Paris by Russian troops and, having received his resignation, left for Italy, which was then under Austrian oppression.

He settles in Milan, in the city he fell in love with back in 1800, and has been living here almost without a break for about seven years. As a retired Napoleonic officer, he receives a half pension, which allows him to somehow survive in Milan, but is not enough to live in Paris.

In Italy, Stendhal publishes his first work - three biographies: "Biography of Haydn, Mozart and Metastasio" (1814).

In 1814, Stendhal first got acquainted with the romantic movement in Germany, mainly from the book by A.V. dramatic literature", just translated into French. Accepting Schlegel's idea of ​​the need for decisive literary reform and the fight against classicism for the sake of a freer and more contemporary art, he, however, does not sympathize with religious and mystical tendencies German romanticism and cannot agree with Schlegel in his criticism of all French literature and education. Since 1816, Stendhal has been fascinated by Byron's poems, in which he sees an expression of modern public interests and social protest. Italian romanticism, emerging around the same time and closely associated with the Italian national liberation movement, arouses his ardent sympathy. All this is reflected in next book Stendhal - "The History of Painting in Italy" (1817), in which he most fully outlined his aesthetic views.

At the same time, Stendhal publishes the book "Rome, Naples and Florence" (1817), in which he tries to characterize Italy, its political situation, customs, culture and Italian national character. To make this picture whole country bright and convincing, he sketches lively scenes modern life and retells historical episodes, revealing the brilliant talent of the narrator.

Since 1820, the persecution of the Italian Carbonari began. Some Italian acquaintances of Stendhal were arrested and imprisoned in Austrian prisons. Terror reigned in Milan. Stendhal decided to return to Paris. In June 1821, he arrived at home and immediately plunged into an atmosphere of stormy political and literary struggle.

At this time, reaction began again with extraordinary force in France. Villelle's ministry, loyal to the king, carried out activities that deeply resented the liberals. Taking advantage of the meager "freedoms" represented by the constitution, the liberals fought in the chambers, in the press, on the stages of theaters. Public figures and organs of the press, who until recently had been loyal to the king, went over to the opposition. In 1827, after an election that gave the Liberals a majority, the Villelle government resigned. But Charles X did not want to give in and decided to carry out a coup d'état in order to fully restore absolutism. As a result, a revolution broke out in Paris, throwing off the old monarchy in three days.

Stendhal was keenly interested in the political struggle going on in France. The restoration of the Bourbons aroused his indignation. Arriving in Paris, he openly took part in the struggle of the liberals against reaction.

In Paris, life was more expensive than in Milan, and Stendhal had to do daily literature for the sake of earning money: write small articles for French and English magazines. He barely found time to write a novel.

His first work, printed after returning to Paris, was the book "On Love" (1822). This book is a psychological treatise in which Stendhal tried to characterize different kinds love, common in certain classes of society and in different historical epochs.

During the restoration in France, there was a dispute between the classics and the romantics. Stendhal took part in these disputes by printing two pamphlets "Racine and Shakespeare" (1823 and 1825). Brochures grab attention literary circles and played a role in the struggle between the two literary trends.

In 1826, Stendhal wrote his first novel - "Armans" (1827), which depicts modern France, its " elite", idle, limited in interests, thinking only about their own benefits, the aristocracy. However, this work of Stendhal, despite its artistic merits, did not attract the attention of readers.

It was one of the most difficult periods in Stendhal's life. The political state of the country plunged him into despondency, the financial situation was very difficult: work in English magazines ceased, and books did not give almost any income. Personal affairs drove him to despair. At this time, he was asked to compile a guide to Rome. Stendhal happily agreed and for short term wrote the book "Walks in Rome" (1829) - in the form of a story about a trip to Italy small group French tourists.

Impressions from modern Rome formed the basis of Stendhal's story "Vanina Vanini, or some details about the last venta of the Carbonari discovered in the Papal States." The story was published in 1829.

In the same year, Stendhal began writing his novel Red and Black, which made his name immortal. The novel was published in November 1830 with the date "1831". At this time, Stendhal was no longer in France.

Among the wealthy bourgeoisie, greed and the desire to imitate the upper classes dominate - original and political mores can only be found among the people. Passions can be noticed only when they break through in some act punishable by law. That is why, in the eyes of Stendhal, the "Judicial Gazette" is an important document to study. modern society. He found the problem he was interested in in this newspaper. Thus, one of the best works Stendhal: "Red and Black". The subtitle of the novel is "Chronicle of the 19th century". This "century" should be understood as the period of the Restoration, since the novel was begun and mostly written before the July Revolution. The term "Chronicle" here denotes a true story about the society of the Restoration era.

M. Gorky remarkably characterized this novel: "Stendhal was the first writer who, almost on the day after the victory of the bourgeoisie, began to perceptively and vividly portray the signs of the inevitability of the internal social decay of the bourgeoisie and its dull myopia."

On July 28, 1830, on the day of the July Revolution, Stendhal was delighted to see a tricolor banner on the streets of Paris. In the history of France came new era: the big financial bourgeoisie came to power. Stendhal quickly unraveled the deceiver and strangler of freedom in the new King Louis Philippe, and considered the former liberals who joined the July Monarchy as renegades. However, he began to bother public service and soon became consul of France in Italy, first to Trieste, and then to Civita Vecchia, a seaport near Rome. Stendhal remained in this position until his death. Most he spent years in Rome and often went to Paris.

In 1832, he began his memoirs about his stay in Paris from 1821 to 1830 - "Reminiscence of an Egotist", in 1835 - 1836 - an extensive autobiography, brought only up to 1800 - "The Life of Henri Brular". In 1834, Stendhal wrote several chapters of Lucien Leven, which also remained unfinished. At the same time, he became interested in the old Italian chronicles he accidentally found, which he decided to process into short stories. But even this plan was realized only a few years later: the first chronicle "Vittoria Accoramboni" appeared in 1837.

During a long vacation in Paris, Stendhal published "Notes of a Tourist" - a book about his travels in France, and a year later the novel "Parma Monastery" was published, which reflected his excellent knowledge of Italy (1839). It was the last work he published. The novel he worked on for the last years of his life, Lamiel, remained unfinished and was published many years after his death.

Stendhal's worldview in general terms took shape already in 1802-1805, when he read with great enthusiasm the French philosophers of the 18th century - Helvetius, Holbach, Montesquieu, as well as their more or less consistent successors - the philosopher Destut de Tracy, the creator of the science of the origin of concepts , and Kabanis, a doctor who argued that mental processes depend on physiological processes.

Stendhal does not believe in the existence of God, religious prohibitions and in afterlife, rejects ascetic morality and morality of humility. He strives to verify every concept that he encounters in life and in books with the data of experience, with personal analysis. On the basis of sensationalist philosophy, he also builds his ethics, or rather, he borrows it from Galventius. If there is only one source of knowledge - our sensations, then any morality that is not connected with sensation, that does not grow out of it, should be rejected. The desire for fame, the well-deserved approval of others, according to Stendhal, is one of the strongest incentives for human behavior.

Subsequently, Stendhal's views evolved: some indifference to public affairs, characteristic of him in the era of the Empire, was replaced by an ardent interest in them. Under the influence of political events and liberal theories during the Restoration, Stendhal began to think that a constitutional monarchy was an inevitable stage on the way from the despotism of the Empire to the Republic, etc. But for all that Political Views Stendhal remained unchanged.

A characteristic feature of modern French society, Stendhal believed, is hypocrisy. This is the government's fault. It is it that forces the French to hypocrisy. No one in France no longer believes in the dogmas of Catholicism, but everyone must pretend to be a believer. No one sympathizes with the reactionary politics of the Bourbons, but everyone should welcome them. From the school bench, he learns to be hypocritical and sees in this the only means of existence and the only opportunity to calmly go about his business.

Stendhal was a passionate hater of religion and especially the clergy. The power of the church over the minds seemed to him the most terrible form of despotism. In his novel Red and Black, he portrayed the clergy as social force fighting on the side of the reaction. He showed how future priests are brought up in the seminary, instilling in them crudely utilitarian and selfish ideas and by all means winning them over to the side of the government.

The impact of Stendhal's work on further development Literature was wide and many figuratively. The reason for this world fame lies in the fact that Stendhal, with extraordinary insight, revealed the main, leading features of modernity, the contradictions tearing it apart, the forces fighting in it, the psychology of the complex and restless 19th century, all those features of the relationship between man and society that were characteristic of more than one only France.

With a deep truthfulness that makes him one of the greatest realists, he showed the movement of his era, freeing itself from the bonds of feudalism, from the domination of the capitalist elite, making its way towards still vague, but inevitably attracting democratic ideals. With each novel, the scope of his images increased, and social contradictions appeared in great complexity and intransigence.

The beloved heroes of Stendhal cannot accept the forms of life that took shape in the 19th century as a result of the revolution that led to the rule of the bourgeoisie. They cannot reconcile themselves with the society in which feudal traditions have ugly reckoned with the triumphant "chistogan". The preaching of independence of thought, energy that rejects ridiculous prohibitions and traditions, the heroic principle, which is trying to break through to action in a stagnant and rough environment, is hidden in this revolutionary in nature, excitingly truthful creativity.

That is why even now, so many years after Stendhal's death, his works are read in all countries by millions of people whom he helps to understand life, appreciate the truth and fight for a better future. That is why it is recognized by our reader as one of the largest artists of the 19th century, who made an invaluable contribution to world literature.