The Red and The Black

Synopsis

A BBC Radio drama of Stendhal's masterpiece - plus bonus documentaryBoth a sweeping chronicle of 19th Century France and a coming-of-age story of a young, idealistic social climber, The Red and the Black is one of the great works in world literature, and widely considered to be the first psychological novel.It charts the misadventures and romantic escapades of Julien Sorel, a timber miller's son who idolises Napoleon and dreams of military glory. But post-Waterloo, the path to power does not lie with the army (the 'red'), but the Church (the 'black'), so he decides to study for the priesthood. Then an opportunity arises to further increase his status as tutor to the Mayor's children - and when the Mayor's wife, Mme de Renal, falls in love with him, he seduces her.Their affair is discovered, and he is forced to leave Verrières and enter the seminary - only for his life to be transformed when his mentor, Abbé Pirard, finds him a job in Paris, as private secretary to the aristocratic Marquis de la Mole. Finally, Julien has an entrée into high society - and when he wins the heart of the Marquis' beautiful, haughty daughter Mathilde, he seems to have the world at his feet. But as his past returns to haunt him, Julien commits a terrible crime that will seal his fate...A gripping tale of love, ambition, morality and hypocrisy, The Red and the Black was adapted as an award-winning 1954 film by Claude Autant-Lara, and televised as a 1993 BBC mini-series starring Ewan McGregor. This lively, fast-paced radio adaptation stars William Squire as the Narrator and Andrew Hall as Julien, with a cast including Margo Gunn, Deborah Paige and Edward de Souza.Also included is the fascinating documentary feature Stendhal and Napoleon, in which Andy Martin tells how Stendahl followed Napoleon across Europe to Moscow in 1812 as catering manager to the troops - and changed fiction in the process.Production creditsWritten by StendhalTranslated by C.K. Scott MoncrieffDramatised by D.G. BridsonDirected by Brian MillerCastNarrator - William SquireJulien Sorel - Andrew HallMme de Renal - Deborah PaigeNapoleon - Edward de SouzaMme Derville - Marilyn Le ConteM de Renal - John Franklyn-RobbinsFouqué - Norman EshleyElise/Adolphe - Debby CommingValenod/Guillaume - Esmond RideoutMme Valenod/Marquise de la Mole - Margaret RobertsonAbbé Chelan - Hedley GoodallAmanda - Rosalind AdamsAbbé Pirard - Malcolm HayesStudent/Bishop/Antoine - Andrew HiltonAbbé Castenede - Roger SnowdonAbbé Chas Bernard - Haydn AndrewsExaminer/Stewart - John LiveseyMarquis de la Mole - Cyril ShapsMlle Mathilde - Margo GunnNorbert - Sion ProbertCroisenois - Jon GlentoranCaylus/Coachman - Stephen GarlickThayler/Lt Lievin - Anthony HydeChevalier de Beauvoisis - Alexander JohnConde Altamira/Friar - Nicholas CourtneyAcademician - Christopher ScottMathilde's cousin - Amanda MurrayQueen Marguerite - Theresa StreatfeildPrince Korasoff - John RyeMme la Margchal - Pauline LettsGunsmith - John WebbJailer - David TimsonMagistrate - Alan DudleyPère Sorel - Jerold WellsFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 2 August-13 September 1981Stendhal and NapoleonPresented by Andy MartinProduced by Tim Dee First broadcast BBC Radio 3, 9 December 2012© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd