Stendhal

@Non-Fiction Writers, Timeline and Family ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Marie-Henri Beyle, known by his pen name Stendhal, was a prominent 19th century French writer Atheists French Writers Novelists Non-Fiction Writers Aquarius Celebrities Marie-Henri Beyle, better known as Stendhal, was a famous French writer of the 19th century. He became known for his critical analysis of characters’ consciousness. He is also considered one of the forerunners of ‘realism’. Some of his most popular realist works include ‘The Red and the Black’ and ‘The Charterhouse of Parma’, both of which were originally written in French and translated to English much later. His works were considered extremely unique and complex compared to the other writers of the 19th century. His secret goal was to become a literary master; one who was adept and successful as a playwright as well as a novelist. However, that dream struck a roadblock when he was appointed as an intendant-general of Napoleon’s army. However, this appointment gave him a number of life-long lessons and experiences pertaining to the Napoleonic regime and the war situation in Europe. Once the war ended, his literary calling became irrevocable and he began to pen his insights on a wide variety of topics, which went on to become some of his literary masterpieces. He was unusual in his style of writing and was known for his good-humor and wit, which reflected in his works.

Personal Details

Birthday: January 23, 1783 Died on: March 23, 1842 Nationality: French Famous: Atheists, Writers, Novelists, Non-Fiction Writers Siblings: Pauline Beyle Known as: Marie-Henri Beyle Birth Place: Grenoble Information Detail Birthday January 23, 1783 Died on March 23, 1842 Nationality French Famous Atheists, Writers, Novelists, Non-Fiction Writers Siblings Pauline Beyle Known as Marie-Henri Beyle Birth Place Grenoble Gender Male Father Chérubin Beyle Sun Sign Aquarius Born in Grenoble Famous as Writer Died at Age 59

Grenoble

Stendhal born at Unsplash Birth Place

Throughout his life, he was involved in a number of relationships and affairs with women including Angela Pietragrua, Melanie Guilbert, Mina de Griesheim, Angeline Bereyter, Mathilde Dembowski, Countess Clementine Curial and even his first cousin, Alexandrine Daru. Unsplash Personal Life

Towards the end of his life, he experienced two apoplectic fits - the second one took his life. He passed away in his apartment at ‘rue Neuve des Capucines’ in Paris on March 23, 1842. Unsplash Personal Life

The ‘Stendhal Syndrome’, a violent tremor of the heart, was named after this illustrious French personality. The condition was named after him in 1979 by Italian psychiatrist, Dr. Graziella Magherini and is still widely considered a medical condition today. Unsplash Personal Life

Stendhal was born as Marie-Henri Beyle on January 23, 1783 to Cherubin Beyle and Henriette Gagnon, in Grenoble. He had two sisters – Pauline (he was extremely affectionate towards her) and Zenaide (he was not very close to her). Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

During the French Revolution that began in 1798, his mother fell ill and passed away the following year. Her death had a lasting impact on young Henri, following which he couldn’t seem to connect with his father. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

In 1792, a governor was employed to look after Henri, who was extremely cold and authoritarian towards him. Young Henri lost faith in religion as a result and became an atheist. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

He studied at the Ecole Centrale de Grenoble and was extremely proficient in mathematics, drawing and literature. In 1799, he left Grenoble to take a competitive exam in Paris, but failed to give it. He was instead, appointed in the Ministry of War. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

In 1810, he was made the auditor with the Conseil d’Etat, following which he was enrolled in Napoleon’s administration. Unsplash Career

During this period, he travelled widely in Germany and was a part of Napoleon’s army during the invasion in Russia, in 1812. The same year, he began his work on a ‘History of Painting in Italy’, but eventually lost the manuscript for the same. Unsplash Career

In 1814, he penned the ‘Letters on Haydn, Mozart and Metastasio’, which was later declared as plagiarized. Unsplash Career

He published, ‘Rome, Naples et Florence’ in 1817 along with the publication of ‘History of Painting in Italy’. These works also became the first works that were signed under the name. ‘Stendhal’. The following year, he began to write about the life of Napoleon. Unsplash Career

In 1820, frustrated by a failed love affair, he started to write ‘On Love’, a psychological elucidation of love. The next year, he was forced to leave Milan, which was a part of the Austrian Empire at the time, because the Austrian government believed him to be a spy. Unsplash Career

One of his most celebrated works; ‘The Red and the Black’ was published in 1830 - it was published in two volumes. It became extremely popular after its publication, because it was considered a novel that was ahead of its time and was also regarded as one of the greatest literary contributions. Since its initial publication, the novel was translated to English in 1900 and was also revised and republished. The book became so popular that it even spawned a number of films including, ‘Le Rouge et le Noir’ and a BBC miniseries, ‘The Scarlet and the Black’. Unsplash Major Works

Information	Detail
Birthday	January 23, 1783
Died on	March 23, 1842
Nationality	French
Famous	Atheists, Writers, Novelists, Non-Fiction Writers
Siblings	Pauline Beyle
Known as	Marie-Henri Beyle
Birth Place	Grenoble
Gender	Male
Father	Chérubin Beyle
Sun Sign	Aquarius
Born in	Grenoble
Famous as	Writer
Died at Age	59

Stendhal

French

Jan 23, 1783

Biography

Personal Details

Grenoble