Illustration by gustave brion author victor hugo illustrator emile bayard country first published in belgium, when author was in selfimposed exile in guernsey language french genre epic novel, historical fiction publisher a. Set in the parisian underworld and plotted like a detective story, the work follows the fortunes of the convict jean valjean, a victim of society who has been imprisoned for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread. In fact, it is the very opposite of fluffy happiness. For some readers, those latter parts the boring parts are a turnoff and a reason to skip the. Victor hugos novel of early 19th century france, as told through the experiences of the exconvict, jean valjean. However, the original french title is often used to entitle the book published in the englishspeaking countries. The characters are french and the book is centered around their lives. In the 90s, when excitement about les mis on broadway was at its peak. One day, an ex convict wanders into the bishops village and cant find any food or lodging because everyone turns him away. I cant stand hugos writing style the literature network. I truly love the story and appreciate how the musical tells it.
Its also insightful social commentary, among the best and most. I recently watched the 2012 film and i adored it, and im desperate to see the stage show, and i want to read the book but, other than the size, ive also heard its very dull. In a nearby town, georges pontmercy, marius father, a hero of the napoleonic wars, lives in retirement. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on litcharts. Classics are a must read for any book addict and les miserable is worth every word. And my past experience with books that big, like a dance with dragons, hasnt been particularly exciting. The perks of being a book addict archive books general. Les miserables, victor hugo les miserables is a french historical novel by victor hugo, first published in 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. As stated in the title, i am interested in reading victor hugos les miserables and would like to hear from fellow redditors who have already read this novel, what. Theres still hope for people who love les mis the new. See a complete list of the characters in les miserables and indepth analyses of jean valjean, cosette, javert, marius pontmercy, and fantine. Assuming you are watching the 1998 version of les miserables, with liam neeson and geoffrey rush, then yes, they are totally different and i was disappointed. Dec 18, 2012 i am scaling victor hugos les miserables and keeping a journal of my ascent of the 1200page hill, scouting the terrain on behalf of prospective readers tempted by the upcoming film adaptation.
Teach your students to analyze literature like litcharts does. Are les miserables movie and book totally different. But during the french revolution, he was forced to emigrate to italy, and his wife died before having children. I think the abridged version doesnt have the sidetracking. At 1260 pages depending on the edition, its quite possibly the longest book ive ever read.
What is the best version of les mis by victor hugo to read. He was like a stray dog, plunged in black despair 3. Oct 22, 2016 les miserables is a french historical novel by victor hugo, first published in 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. Great book spent 2 hours a day, 5 days a week, for almost two months listening to all 5 volumes of les miserables. The protagonist, jean valjean, is sentenced to prison for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread.
Nice to know about waterloo, french revolution, french slang words, the. Les miserables is one of the longest novels in european literature. Les miserables viewers outraged by boring bbc drama after. After his release, valjean plans to rob monseigneur myriel, a saintlike bishop, but cancels his plan. Jean valjean, an exconvict became the central character in. Worth reading les miserables if already seen the musical. Marius is a seventeenyearold who lives with his grandfather, m. Les miserables was daunting, but couldnt have been more worth it, and the beauty of the story pulled me along so that it wasnt a chore at all. Les miserables by victor hugo french edition part 1 fantime this is the first book of the famous work by victor hugo. Les miserables can be translated from the french into the miserable ones, the wretched, the poor ones, the wretched poor or the victims. Davidsons reading of the last hour or so of les miserables should be among the halloffame of audiobooks along with frank muellers reading of tale of two cities i listen while i commute and i just kept driving to the end. Novel of the century is a lively companion to les miserables. He was the son of a man of parliament, and he spent his younger years devoted to worldly affairs.
Les miserables is a terrific insight into french history. Novel of the century, by david bello david bellos new book is a comprehensive guide to les miserables, and a compelling story in its own right, packed with detail about the. Its great because its an imaginative, beautifully crafted and uplifting story. Having the book with you can entertain you when youre bored or. Jean valjean, an exconvict became the central character in the story.
Les miserables the book by victor hugo is incredibly long. Dec 30, 2016 however, the original french title is often used to entitle the book published in the englishspeaking countries. Buy les miserables classics by hugo, victor, denny, norman, denny, norman, denny, norman from amazons fiction books store. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. Its also insightful social commentary, among the best and most interesting of writing genres, if you ask me. Indeed, this 19thcentury french authors books from the epic drama les miserables to the classic unrequited love. Book one, fantine so ive decided to take the plunge and make another attempt at victor hugos epic masterpiece, les miserables. I could go on, but i know a lot of you have already read the book and know what im talking about. It was an instant popular success and was quickly translated into several languages. Luckily for him, if not for us, marius and cosette eventually find their way to one another and get married. Publication date 1862 les miserables is a french historical novel by victor hugo, first.
Let us get other interesting facts about les miserables below. Epic book, great story and historical document very well narrated, one of the most amazing stories ever written. Jul 10, 2016 les miserables is about poverty, pain, isolation, frustration, suffering. However, several alternatives have been used, including the miserables. I feel that i am relatively unique in this day and age in that i did not know very much about les mis i had only made a very very cursory listen to the soundtrack to the movie, had no real idea of the story and had never seen the play. Movie i am proud of my naming abilities, and ill be examining books and. First american edition and first edition in english of victor hugos masterpiece. When i read les miserables i said only hugo could give you a hundred pages to describe a man who had an amazing. Its like a readers digest condensed version of the bible. Les miserables i have been posting quotes from this book for a while now. Les miserables is a timeless story mixed with challenging history lessons and philosophical musings. Les miserables is a french historical novel by victor hugo, first published in 1862.
It picks up the story at the end of les miserables and then takes marius and cosette to the end of their lives, and all their problems in between. Watching a story unfold and discussing it can be powerful motivation for many people. Suggesting les mis to your book club can make reading the book an enjoyable endeavor. They explain things more and it is more correct in the musical than the movie, which is also disappointing. In other words, marius has so little character that, without cosette, he becomes a black hole of boring. Reading can sometimes be a boring or solitary endeavor. In the englishspeaking world, the novel is usually referred to by its original french title. If a writer wrote merely for his time, i would have to break my pen and throw it away, the largerthanlife victor hugo once confessed. Instant downloads of all 1291 litchart pdfs including les miserables. So, as you will have concluded, this is not a happy book. Miserables petits classiques larousse french edition. Grant browder les miserables book report october 2011 summary the convict jean valjean is released from a french prison after serving nineteen years for stealing a loaf of bread to help support his widowed and poverty stricken sister and her seven kids, including, time. Dec 30, 2018 les miserables viewers outraged by boring bbc drama after it ditches songs from the musical the starstudded new series doesnt feature any of the famous songs from the musical and is. What is the best version of the book les miserables by.
Les miserables viewers outraged by boring bbc drama after it ditches songs from the musical the starstudded new series doesnt feature any of the famous songs from the musical and is. What a great book, but some of the history lessons were a little too long. Two thirds of the book doesnt advance the plot, but it is a description of french life with amazing attention to detail. Here are my two cures for those suffering from absorption in les mis. Jul 11, 2008 les miserables, as interpreted by the rsc. Hugo wrote several novels, but the only three that have continued to be much read today are les miserables. Ive wanted to read it for quite a while, but ive always been put off by its size. As for the story itself, les miserables is simply one of the greatest stories ever told.
Take les mis with you on vacation, to a pool or amusement park, or on your morning commute. If you want the pure version, go with the unabridged. The strange power of les mis, the book the new republic. I know the book isnt going to be everyones absolute favourite thing, its really long and honestly, it is boring in parts, but it presents a much deeper and more complex story than a 3hr musical ever can. Les miserables is a wonderful book its a sacrilege to cut it down. Mar 02, 20 les miserables is a book about misery, and not just about povertymisery, which, even in french, denotes something larger and vaguer and more emotional than a mere economic condition.
The notion posited by belloss title that les miserables is the novel of the 19th century is given a thoroughly good airing. And as far as we know, they live happily ever after. Like a good french romantic, victor hugo made his everyday life as dramatic as possible. Gillenormand, by threatening to disinherit marius, has forced georges. The story of jean valjean, a poor french boy who is arrested at the age of 19 for stealing a loaf of bread for his family, and who is sentenced to the quarries for seven years. Mar 25, 2020 in the first video of the boring show, i do a book brief for the famous novel les miserables victor hugo.
Hugo now turns to another leading character, marius. And thats where, for me, it fell so woefully short. In the first video of the boring show, i do a book brief for the famous novel les miserables victor hugo. This book is full of hugos political and religious ideas which at times get a little preachy and ponderous. Apr 30, 2010 assuming you are watching the 1998 version of les miserables, with liam neeson and geoffrey rush, then yes, they are totally different and i was disappointed. Les miserables, novel by victor hugo, published in french in 1862. The books opens by describing the life of a really upstanding dude named bishop myriel. Les miserables is a novel by victor hugo that was first published in 1862. When hes done with that, he gives a long discussion of paris as though the city were a sort of person with a specific personality.
I have been posting quotes from this book for a while now. Les miserables viewers outraged by boring bbc drama. Im not sure if its longer than war and peace, its tough to say based on different editions. Reading just a few pages each day will make the book boring. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. Nice to know about waterloo, french revolution, french slang words, the paris sewer system, etc, but way to much information. Classics illustrated tells this wonderful tale in colorful comic strip form, providing an excellent introduction for younger readers. The literal meaning of les miserables is the miserable ones. Prepare yourself to spend a lot of time reading it its long, the language is difficult and you have to be fully. So ive decided to take the plunge and make another attempt at victor hugos epic masterpiece, les miserables.
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