On the night of October 25th, 1929, the French writer Stendhal set about to write his classic novel Le Rouge et Le Noir, which had been inspired by the trial of a young seminarian, Antoine Berthet, who was charged with killing his mistress, a married woman from a provincial town. In Hilsman's dramatic comedy, we learn the story of the seminarian, a poor farm boy with a secret enthusiasm for Napoleon. Berthet is sent to tutor the child of a provincial mayor and, before long, begins an affair with the mayor's wife. When her husband discovers her affair, she ends their relationship and confesses her sin to the local priest. Enraged, Antoine follows her to a village church where he shoots her. She survives, but Antoine is put on trial. Frustrated by his failing literary career, Stendhal confides in his dearest friend, Mme. Jules Gaulthier, vowing to leave Paris to attend the trial of the young seminarian, she is aghast. Stendhal arrives at the prison and tries to persuade him to recant and save, but he refuses and is sent to the guillotine. Stendhal vows to tell his story, in what will become the classic novel, Le Rouge et Le Noir. Stendhal's life becomes entwined with the fate of the young seminarian. Frustrated by his failing literary career, Stendhal confides in his dearest friend, Mme. Jules Gaulthier, vowing to leave Paris to attend the trial of a young seminarian accused of shooting his married lover in a church, she is aghast. Stendhal arrives at the prison and tries to persuade him to recant and save, but he refuses and is sent to the guillotine. Stendhal vows to tell his story, in what will become the classic novel, Le Rouge et Le Noir.