The hero Julien was born in the small owner family, obsessed with Napoleon valiant record him, want to rise head and shoulders above others, helpless at that time France was in Bourbon Restoration period. The army without the door he chose the Church Road, due to be able to recite the whole of the "New Testament", even by the local mayor fancy, become his home tutor, after church recommend, as the royalist Marquess of Larmor served as a private secretary to representative. But in the end, a letter informing messenger he be destroyed on one day be successful in one's official career. This book is not only a realistic novel, but also created the "psychological novel" precedent. The author used the exquisite brushwork in even the contradiction of rich inner world, he struggled between ambition and love.