Stendhal: biography and creativity. Interesting facts from life

We suggest to get acquainted with the life and work of the great writer. His works he signed "Stendhal". The biography of this writer, like his works, is of interest to many today. However, not everyone knows that his real name was Marie Henri Beyle. The writer sometimes tried to appropriate a noble title, sometimes signing as "Henri de Beyle". Probably, so would Julien Sorel, the famous hero of his novel, do it.

Origin of Stendhal

Stendhal came from a family of solid bourgeois, whose biography was reflected in the works he created. In Grenoble, in the law firm, his father served. In 1783, the future writer appeared. His mother died after 7 years, leaving her son and his aunt Serafi to be raised. Stendhal hated both of them. His father was a hypochondriac, stern, and callous person. Stendhal owed his early education to the priests. This became the main reason for his anti-clericalism. In the confrontation with his father and spiritual mentors, the character of the writer was formed.

Character and personality of Stendhal

Very very narcissistic, impulsive, sensual, critical and undisciplined was Stendhal. His biography is interesting not only events in life, but also the inner world of this writer. Those who knew him close to people said that he was secretive, he loved solitude and solitude. Stendhal had a thin and vulnerable soul. Hatred of tyranny was one of the main features of his character. At the same time, Stendhal doubted the liberation movements. He sympathized with the Carbonarians 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 the republic, others dreamed of seeing a monarchy in their country.

Training in the Central School and time spent in Paris

The grandfather on the part of the mother, by profession the doctor, encouraged his enthusiasm for literature. He was a man with a good artistic taste. When Stendhal was 13 years old, he was sent to study at the Central School in Grenoble. Here he was very distinguished 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'état, after which Napoleon became ruler of France. Beyle, forgetting about his intention to obtain the profession of an engineer, rushed headlong into the imperial adventure that had swept the country. Daru, a distant relative of the future writer, who later became secretary of state, was in great favor with Napoleon. He achieved for Stendhal a church office, which he occupied at the military headquarters. However, this work was too boring for him. Young Henri, who was only 17 years old, received the knowledge of the sub-lieutenant the next year. He was sent to Italy. At that time there was a French army.

Life in Italy

Beyle 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. Everyone admired the young man here: the painting of Correggio, the music of Cimarosa, the Italian opera. He also found the Italian temperament attractive. He seemed more determined, passionate and less civilized than French. Italy, especially Milan and Rome, was so fond of Beyleu that he even wanted to carve out the following words on his gravestone: "Enrico Beyle, Milanese." Beyle fell in love with local women. From that time his private life became a chronicle of mostly amorous adventures.

Public service

The following years were very active. Stendhal, whose biography and creativity we are interested in, again entered the service in 1806, taking up an administrative post in the occupied Brunswick by the French. Here he began to learn German. Stendhal was like a good company. The respect that surrounded him flattered him, but he was rather bored. Beyle later traveled a lot in Austria and Germany. He was sent to Vienna on a government mission. He also went to Russia after the emperor. In Russia, Beyle became an eyewitness of the Borodino and Smolensk battles. He was present even in the fire of Moscow. Then he retreated to Western Europe together with the French army. The power of Napoleon collapsed, and Beyle left France when Paris fell. He realized that his career had ended in power circles.

Return to Literary Activity

The state was now ruled by the Bourbons. Beyle returned to literary activity. From that moment he became known as Frederic Stendhal. A brief biography of his these years is marked by the creation of many works. Written in the 1820's, his writings 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 treatise of 1812 "On Love"; And "The History of Painting in Italy," written in 1817; And "Walks around Rome" in 1829.

In addition, he published various articles in the magazines of London and Paris. Such is the shortened biography of Stendhal of these years. From his casual earnings depended his life in France, England and Italy.

Translation in Civitavecchia

On the throne in 1830 was built Louis Philippe, the monarch-bourgeois. Now, before Stendhal, 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 Civitavecchue. He was given a more modest salary than before. But from here it was a stone's throw to the beloved Rome.

Deterioration of health and further biography of Stendhal

We briefly described why Stendhal was compelled to be content with the post of consul, far from his homeland. He remained in this position for the rest of his life, although he often had to leave for a long time because of poor health. Because of him, he often took a long vacation and returned to his homeland. One of them lasted for three years (from 1836 to 1839). Particularly difficult were the last years of life of this writer. Even in his youth, he contracted syphilis. This illness made itself felt by the weakness and inability to work fully.

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

In the last year of the reign of Charles X, the novel "Red and Black" was created. In 1831, by the time this book was published, it had already become obsolete, at least with regard to criticism of the Bourbons. However, Stendhal's name today is connected, first of all, with this novel. It was created on the basis of real events in 1830. Literary critics for a long time could not answer the question why the author gave such a title to his work. Both of these colors are reminiscent of death, bloodshed and tragedy. And the combination of black and class is also associated with the upholstery of the coffin. At the tragic final, the reader is already set the name of the work.

Five years after the creation of this novel, Stendhal wrote "Red and White." It is no coincidence that the names of the two works are similar. In addition, the content and title of the new novel explains to some extent the title of the previous one. Most likely, under the black color, the author did not mean death, but the low origin of Julien Sorel, the main character. White pointed to the elite, whose representative was the protagonist of the second novel, Lucien Leven. And red is a symbol of the alarming time in which these two characters lived.

New works

Stendhal created two autobiographical works over the next ten years: in 1832 - "Memoirs of an Egoist", in 1835-36 - "The Life of Henri Bruhlar," in 1834-35. - the novel "Lucien Leuven", left unfinished. Not wishing to risk his consular post again, he did not dare to publish his works during his lifetime. In 1839, the second masterpiece of Stendhal (after the "Red and Black") - "Parma monastery" was published. This is the story of the intrigues and adventures taking place in Italy.

Return to Paris and death

The writer returned to Paris in 1841, where he suffered a stroke. However, he continued to compose until his death, dictating his works. It was no longer possible for Stendhal to record them independently. His biography ends in March 1842, when he died of a stroke after a long illness. Stendhal died in Paris.

What is the direction in the literature of the writer Frederic Stendhal?

The biography you just read gives a general idea of Stendhal's life. And what are the features of his work? Let's answer this question. Long was the way of this writer to fame. Stendhal said that he wrote his works "for a few lucky ones." He predicted that not earlier than 1880, glory would come to him. And Stendhal was right. Perhaps his greatest failure was that he did not fit in with one or another of the literary stereotypes that existed in his time. Stendhal separated from the authors of the 18th century a love for self-heroes, such as Napoleon. However, he could not be called a romantic writer. This author lacked both the sentimentality of Lamartine, and the epic scope of Hugo. Only when these figures left the literary pedestal, it became clear what is the real greatness of the writer of interest to us - in psychological realism. Thanks to him the whole world became famous Stendhal.

Biography, a brief summary of the works of this author, critical articles about him - all this is still of interest to many connoisseurs of his work. Certainly, Stendhal is one of the classics of French literature. In order to better acquaint the reader with him, we created the above biography of Stendhal. The chronological table of life and creativity, which in some textbooks restricts information about it, does not give an idea of his personality, misses many significant details. The biography you have just met is spared from these shortcomings.