Marie-Henri Beyle, better known by his pen name Stendhal, was a French writer born on January 23, 1783, in Grenoble, France. He is best known for his novels, particularly The Red and the Black and The Charterhouse of Parma, which explore themes of love, ambition, and the complexities of human nature. Stendhal's writing style is characterized by its psychological depth and keen observations of society. Stendhal was also a prominent critic of art and literature, contributing to the understanding of aesthetics in the 19th century. He was an early advocate of the concept of crystallization, a metaphor for the process of falling in love. Stendhal's influence extends beyond literature, impacting various fields, including psychology and philosophy. He passed away on March 23, 1842, in Paris.