Classic: Stendhal The Charterhouse of Parma

• Author: Stendhal
• Title: The Charterhouse of Parma
• Published: 1839
• Language: French
• List Reading Challenges 2018
  
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Conclusion:

1. Fabrice del Dongo, a young archbishop
2. …gives his all to romance rather than to the Church.
3. This creates complications for everyone around.
4. Love triangle duchess Gina-Fabrice-Clélia is the basis of the book.
5. The book collapses a few times:
6. Battle of Waterloo, l’abbé Blanes reads the omens in Fabrice’s life.
7. It takes 40 pages from the meeting with Giletti (hero’s rival over a love interest)
8. to the knife fight resulting in Giletti’s death that puts Fabrice in prison.
9. These are all scenes that don’t advance the action
10. …and exhausted this reader.
11. The story really gets underway when Fabrice enters prison
12. …and falls in love with the jailer’s daughter, Clélia.
13. This happens in chapter 18 that is more than halfway through the book.!
14. If you can be patient and wait until the half way mark….
15. you may enjoy this French classic.