The story is told at a Canon's house in Padua where we learn that the protagonist is the child of Lieutenant Robert.  
At the beginning of Jean Giradoux's novel, Bella, a dead soldier asks from the grave that this book be summarized in a word.  The story is told at a Canon's house in Padua where we learn that the protagonist is the child of Lieutenant Robert.  As a teenager, our hero attempts to join Napoleon at Waterloo and ends up almost being hung as a spy.  Falling for the actress Marrietta, he kills her jealous lover Giletti and runs afoul of the corrupt Minister Rassi.  After falling hard for General Conti's daughter Clelia, the protagonist's escape is manufactured by Count Mosca at the behest of Duchess Gina Sanseverina.  FTP, name this novel starring Fabricio del Dongo's escapades in the titular prison, a work by Stendahl.
At the beginning of Jean Giradoux's novel, Bella, a dead soldier asks from the grave that this book be summarized in a word.  
The Charterhouse of Parma or La Chartreuse de Parme