Customer Reviews

Les Miserables

5 star:		(59)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This novel is one of the all-time classics in literature. It is a compelling story of a simple working man, Jean Valjean, caught up in the French "justice" system of the 19th century. His crime was petty. He broke into a bakery to get bread for starving family members (in the modern United States, he might have received probation). Because the baker's family lived in the building, he was charged with breaking into an occupied dwelling and sent to prison. In France, you were required to have a passport to travel within the country. Released from prison, he is given the infamous "yellow passport" issued to people with criminal records. An act of heroism allows him to obtain work without showing his passport, but his past catches up with him and he is sent to a prison galley for life for a second petty crime in his past as a "repeat offender."

He escapes and recovers a cache of gold that he had buried, then rescues the orphan daughter of a woman he had known, but is pursued by the relentless policeman Javert, a man who has no compassion and enforces the law to the letter.

Jean Valjean is a simple man and, basicly, is trying to help other people. The system does its best to grind him down. It is notable that the story ends when people are taking to the streets and building barricades in a fight against the very system that led to his troubles.

I just finished reading the original unabridged version of this book, in French, and believe me, I was moved. So when my wife and I wanted to get an abridged version for her to read in English, we bought this one. On skimming through the book, and maybe it's just us, but we found no trace of Fantine's story before she ended up in Jean Valjean's care, or of Jean Valjean's rescue of Cosette from the Thénardiers, which are both very moving parts. If those are missing, there are probably other very touching and important parts missing. We plan on taking our version back and getting the full version. It would be better to just skip past the sections that talk about the convent, the battle of Waterloo, the sewer system, etc., because they're wasy to skip, and the rest of the book will still be there. Honestly, Les Mis is probably the best book I've ever read, but it has to be purchased in it's full format to really be truly appreciated.

I would recommend this book as compulsory reading for anybody interested in the universal issues of good and evil and man's ability to overcome all obstacles in his pursuit of a higher goal.The sheer breadth and depth of the literary canvas of Hugo's book takes one's breath away.It deals with the remarkable transformation of one man, Jean ValJean, wronged and exiled by society, his transformation by a kind Vicar's example and the trials and tribulations of his life as he strives to live by the Vicar's philosophy.
It is a tribute to the human spirit and the power of a single determined man in the face of all odds.
As relevant and meaningful today as when it was first written.

Les Miserables is probably one the greatest books ever written. That may be why it has lasted since it was first published in 1862. It is an important work, as it has greatly influenced other writers who came after Victor Hugo. But I'm sure you all already know this. The story is familiar and loved, so I'm not going to give another synopsis like the reviews already in place. This translation of the book is currently one of the newest and most highly praised that I know of, and compared to my old translation, it is an easier read. Not that it has been "modernized," but the writing is much more fluid and thought out than just straight translation, and shows that the he reallly understood what he was translating.

Hugo's books are not an easy read in a sense that they are very much emotionally involving. About 15 years ago I was pulled in by "The Man Who Laughs." The kind of emotional punch it packed was astounding. During the same year I first read "Les Miserables" - and for me Jean became a hero to look up to. But it's not only a book about one remarkable individual - it is also a book about the world we live in, just a moment's pass on eternal clock.
Hugo places the reader in the midst of dark valleys of 19th century Paris or it countryside and one can't help following Jean and Cosette with Javert hot on their heels. One reason we feel so much "inside" the story is that each character, even the non-sequential ones, are incredibly well-drawn, their faces (or mugs) are as clear as etchings. But it's not only that, otherwise it would be easily dismissed as so many works by so-called "scholars". The narrative is infused with white-hot passion. Yes, Hugo is taking a preacher-like stance on many issues, but without that the story would be simply entertaining but not involving and provocative which it remains to the present day. (After all, the villains have just changed their masks. Instead of unwashed rags they may now wear Italian business suits.)
This book cries out to its readers to take action, to ask themselves if their lives have meaning, to stop the pursuit of worldly possessions and concentrate on the pursuit of the moral ones. It is also about the second chances, about real and fake love, and about misplaced guilt and internal conflict.
I really hope the teachers don't make this book a "requirement" or that the students read abridged versions of it.

I am now fifteen I was fourteen when I first saw the musical on PBS and absoulutly loved it. My parents bought the musical for me for Christmas. My brother and I both loved it, and we have memorized nearly all the words. I then became intrested in the novel which I knew was like a million pages long, but I love to read and I loved the musical, so I decided to go for it. I thought it would take me months to read, but it was so intriguing that I finished it in one week (and yes is was the unabriged version). The last night I just read all night long until I finished it. It is sometimes hard to remember that the characters are not real people. I love every character, even Javert. I love the chapters in which Hugo takes us inside the minds of Jean Valjean and Javert. I am afraid I disagree with a earlier review which states that the death of Enjolras and Grantaire was the most moving part of the book although it was extremely moving, the death of Jean Valjean was the most moving, I mean it makes you cry for thirty pages, what can be more moving? In my personal opinion this is the greatest book ever written, but I have never read "War and Peace" which I hear some people think is the best. FYI: Leo Tolstoy said that Les Miserables was one of the greatest, if not the greatest novel ever written, but that was before he wrote "War and Peace".

I noticed that alot a people feel this book is extremely long and I have to admit that some parts weren't entirely necessary, but I still would recommend reading the unabridged version, you just can't get the full depth of the story unless you read the full version.

To sum it all up read the book and go see the musical they are both exellent.

If you like Les Mis, read I Promessi Sposi(the betrothed) by Alessandro Manzoni. That si the greatest italian novel. Its very similar to les Mis, but not as well known over here.

A story of mans struggle with himself, and an oppressive society. The book has it all repression, discrimination, Love. The persuit of Val jean by the relentless Javert. I have read the book many times over, and still get the same joy from reading it. Do not be put of by the size, it is an eminately readable book.

This book is one of the greatest books that has ever been written, if not the best. It is very long, but the intricacies of the characters and the plot are incredible. Hugo is a master at tackling issues of life, war, love, and God with insight and humor. If you are possibly able to sit down and read ths many pages...do it (and the abridged version does not cut it).

Yes, it is a very long novel, but every word counts. This is not the sort of book to read if you just want to know what happens next - it is a lovely, long, engrossing read. For example, the author lingers on the kind M. Bienvenu for chapters and chapters ... but by the end of it, there is no man so good, so kind, so well-regarded. We have the EXPERIENCE of a life of good (actually, think of it, it is probably too short!) not just "he was a good man" in two paragraphs. I am actually reading the novel to someone, and we have just finished Bienvenu's section, and enjoyed it very much.

A very involved plot, many of the characters who would be familiar to the musical-going audience.

It could be that the almost simplistic symbolism of the characters (ie. Beinvenu=compasionately good, Javert=inflexibly moral, Valjean=redeemed, Fantain=innocence lost, Cossette=love triumphant) is what makes such a complex story easily rendered on the stage.