The Red and the Black

A work of literature that one views as difficult, or as an undertaking, demands the best-quality narration. This re-released production of Stendhal's finest work, a progenitor of the psychological novel, easily meets this requirement. The late David Case's pacing lends itself to the themes of class, ambition, and desire. His delivery makes this seemingly dusty work of literature an engrossing story and helps one understand the new ground Stendhal broke in writing it. As Case portrays the archetypal characters, he fully inhabits both their struggles and the satire of the story. M.T. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine