Stendhal (1783-1842) - the great French writer, one of the founders of the French realistic novel of the XIX century. Stendhal's work is characterized by an organic combination of sobriety and inspiring romance, elements of criticism and psychological depth. All his literary activity was subordinated to the desire to reflect the drama of life, to create plastic-voluminous, full-blooded images that capture the thoughts and passions of the era that gave rise to them.