Vanina Vanini

Stendhal (Marie-Henri Beyle, 1783–1842)— French master of literary realism. Born in Grenoble during the final years of the Ancien Régime, Stendhal experienced the upheavals of the French Revolution and served under Napoleon in Italy, a country that profoundly influenced his worldview and writing. Known for his sharp psychological insight and ironic style, he masterfully explored themes of passion, ambition, love, pride, and society's complexities. Best remembered for The Red and the Black and The Charterhouse of Parma, Stendhal's bold narrative approach and modern sensibility paved the way for literary giants such as Dostoevsky and Proust. Though not fully appreciated during his lifetime, today he is celebrated as a pioneer of psychological realism and a keen observer of the human heart.