The Charterhouse of Parma by Stendhal

The Charterhouse of Parma is a novel written by the great French writer Stendhal in 1839. It is a tragic love story, set in the Italian city of Parma during the Napoleonic era. Set against a backdrop of political events and a family drama, it tells the story of the young Count Fabrizio del Dongo and his love affair with the beautiful daughter of the current Duke of Sanseverina, Clélia. The book has been widely praised for its realistic depiction of everyday life and its excellent characterization.

The novel begins with the narrator, an anonymous Italian traveler, setting the scene for readers. He gives a general history of Parma and goes into detail about the city’s class system, its colorful characters, and its popular gathering spots. At the center of the story is the Count del Dongo, a young and naive aristocrat from Milan who moves to Parma to attend the court of the Duke of Sanseverina.

While at court, the Count falls in love with the Duke’s beautiful daughter Clélia, who is considered a major catch in the city. Fabrizio pursues her relentlessly, despite her reluctance to return his advances. While Clélia ignores Fabrizio’s feelings, she is still very fond of him and even helps him in a number of political intrigues he becomes involved in due to his family’s connections.

Eventually, Clélia’s father forbids her from seeing Fabrizio and orders him to leave court. Fabrizio does not take this well and flees to Paris, where he gets embroiled in Napoleon Bonaparte’s military campaigns. Meanwhile, Clélia is sent to a convent and forbidden to ever marry Fabrizio. After returning from France and a period of traveling, Fabrizio eventually learns of Clélia’s confinement. He decides to mount a daring Italian campaign to free Clélia and marry her, but his grand plans ultimately prove to be too ambitious.

The story is a tragedy of love and ambition, as the naive romanticism of Fabrizio is constantly tested by the harsh realities of the political climate of the region. It is a story of false hopes and broken dreams. Stendhal gives an amazing depth to the characters of Fabrizio and Clélia throughout the novel, making the reader feel for the young couple as their relationship is bitterly tested by the administration of the Duke of Sanseverina. The novel is a classic that still stands the test of time and speaks to the complexity of the human heart and its desires. The Charterhouse of Parma is a must read for anyone interested in the romance of the Italian renaissance.