The Charterhouse of Parma (1839) is a compelling novel of passion and daring, of prisons and heroic escape, of political chicanery and sublime personal courage. Set at the beginning of the nineteenth century, amidst the golden landscapes of northern Italy, it traces the joyous but ill-starred amorous exploits of a handsome young aristocrat called Fabrice del Dongo, and of his incomparable aunt Gina, her suitor Prime Minister Mosca, and Clelia, a heroine of ethereal beauty and earthly passion. These characters are rendered unforgettable by Stendhal\047s remarkable gift for psychological insight. \047Never before have the hearts of princes, ministers, courtiers, and women been depicted like this,\047 wrote Honore de Balzac. \047Stendhal\047s tableau has the dimensions of a fresco but the precision of the Dutch masters.\047 The great achievement of The Charterhouse of Parma is to conjure up the excitement and romance of youth while never losing sight of the harsh realities which beset the pursuit of happiness, nor the humour and patient irony with which these must be viewed.\012This new translation captures Stendhal\047s narrative verve, while the Introduction explores the novel\047s reception and the reasons for its enduring popularity and power. \012