Introduction
Note on the text
A chronology of Stendhal
BOOK ONE
1 A small town
2 A mayor
3 Care of the poor
4 Father and son
5 Striking a bargain
6 Boredom
7 Elective affinities
8 Minor events
9 An evening in the country
10 A generous heart and a meagre fortune
11 In the evening
12 A journey
13 Openwork stockings
14 A pair of English scissors
15 The crowing of the cock
16 The day after
17 First deputy
18 A king in Verrieres
19 Thinking brings suffering
20 Anonymous letters
21 Dialogue with a master
22 Modes of behaviour in 1830
23 The woes of a civil servant
24 A capital ciw
25 The seminary
26 The world or what the rich man lacks
27 First experience of life
28 A procession
29 First promotion
30 A man of ambition
BOOK TWO
/ Pleasures of the countryside
2 Entry into society
3 The first steps
4 The Hotel de la Mole
5 Sensitivity and a great lady's piety
6 A matter of accent
7 An attack of gout
8 What decoration distinguishes a man?
9 The ball
10 Queen Marguerite
11 The power of a young lady
12 Might he be a Danton?
13 A plot
14 A young lady's thoughts
15 Is it a plot?
16 One o'clock in the morning
17 An old sword
18 Cruel moments
19 The Opera Bouffe
20 The Japanese vase
CONTENTS
21 The secret memorandum
22 The discussion
23 The clergy, forests and freedom
24 Strasburg
25 The Ministry of Virtue
26 Propriety in love
27 The best positions in the Church
28 Manon Lescaut
29 Boredom
3o A box at the Opera Bouffe
31 Frightening her
32 The tiger
33 The infernal torment of weakness
34 A man of intelligence
35 A storm
36 Sorry details
37 Akeep
38 A powerful man
39 Politicking
40 Tranquillity
41 The trial