
In this intimate memoir, the narrator walks us through the tangled streets of post‑revolutionary France, where personal ambition collides with the lingering shadows of the old regime. He reflects on friendships forged in the salons of Grenoble and Paris, recalling the sharp wit and restless energy of companions like the lanky Grand‑Dufay. Through vivid anecdotes, the author sketches the delicate balance between sincerity and the ever‑present hypocrisy of his era.
The prose captures the restless spirit of a young man eager to prove himself—whether in grammar contests or the bustling world of belles‑lettres—while simultaneously questioning the moral compromises demanded by a society still finding its footing. Observations on family ties, provincial poverty, and the lingering influence of aristocratic ideals lend the narrative a keen social edge, making the personal history feel like a microcosm of a nation in flux.
Written with the lyrical precision of a seasoned chronicler, the volume blends humor, self‑critique, and earnest confession. Listeners will be drawn into a world where every memory feels like a fresh revelation, inviting them to share the author’s search for meaning amid the turbulence of his time.
Language
fr
Duration
~7 hours (420K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Laura Natal Rodriguez and Marc D'Hooghe at Free Literature (back online soon in an extended version, also linking to free sources for education worldwide ... MOOC's, educational materials,...) Images generously made available by Gallica (Bibliothèque nationale de France.)
Release date
2016-12-21
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1783–1842
Best known for The Red and the Black and The Charterhouse of Parma, this sharp-eyed French novelist wrote with unusual psychological depth and a restless, modern energy. His life as a traveler, critic, and diplomat gave his fiction a worldly edge that still feels fresh.
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