Set in Restoration France, "The Red and The Black" centres on Julien Sorel, the novel's restless, ambitious hero. Julien rebels against his circumstances and determines to make something of his life by adopting the code of hypocrisy through which his society operates.

Set in Restoration France, "The Red and The Black" centres on Julien Sorel, the novel's restless, ambitious hero. Julien rebels against his circumstances and determines to make something of his life by adopting the code of hypocrisy through which his society operates.