Fabrizio del Dongo, a young Italian aristocrat, is resolved to resist his right-wing father's fury and go to war to fight for Napoleon. He arrives at the Battle of Waterloo unprepared, but full of zeal for fight and glory. Fabrizio, finally heeding advice, slips back to Milan, only to become engaged in a series of sexual exploits, fueled by his impetuous personality and the political scheming of his aunt Gina and her devious lover. The Charterhouse of Parma, considered by Balzac to be the most important French novel of its day, is a captivating novel of extravagance and boldness, mingling the intrigues of the Italian court with the romance and excitement of youth.