The Red and the Black

Following Napoleon’s exile in 1815, the Bourbon monarchy has been restored. Verrières, a small town in the mountains, has prospered during this era. In the 1820s, Monsieur de Rênal’s nail factory is thriving alongside other examples of local industry. M. de Rênal is the mayor of the town and an ardent supporter of the French King, Charles X. He has built a large house for himself in Verrières, though he is still bitter about the high price he paid for the land. He bought the land from a “tough and stubborn peasant” (5) named Sorel, who agreed to move his sawmill further down the river to accommodate M. de Rênal’s building project.

The people of Verrières, the narrator claims, are very materialistic, representing the ambitious bourgeoisie whose fortunes rose under Napoleon. M. de Rênal speaks to his wife, Madame de Rênal. He is angry because Monsieur Appert, a liberal advocate for prison reform, is visiting Verrières to inspect the poor house, the hospital, and the prison.

M. Appert’s visit has been arranged by an elderly local priest named Monsieur Chélan. M. de Rênal shares his fears with Monsieur de Valenod, the director of the poor house. They visit Chélan to lambast him for inviting the inspector.