Les Misérables (Signet Classics) by Victor Hugo
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Book Reviews of Les Misérables (Signet Classics)
Book Review: Do yourself a favor - read this!
Summary: 5 Stars
Finished reading this book about two weeks ago - but the effect that this book had on me, was so profound that I could not bring myself to write anything on the book, lest I might say something to demean the masterpiece! For, when was the last time you saw a critical review of the Mona Lisa, or where have you ever heard someone describing the faults of the Taj Mahal!?!
The story chronicles the life and times of Jean Valjean, a homeless, faithless, escaped convict, as he runs across the landscape of France of the 19th-century, at the time of the French Revolution. The two central themes that dominate the novel are the moral redemption of Jean Valjean, and the moral redemption of a Nation through Revolution. Victor Hugo is quoted to have said: "I condemn slavery, I banish poverty, I teach ignorance, I treat disease, I lighten the night, and I hate hatred. That is what I am, and that is why I have written Les Miserables."
Overall, the novel is a critical statement against human suffering, poverty, and ignorance, its purpose being as much political as it is artistic!
Coming back, then, Jean Valjean is running across France, because he is being hunted down by a meticulous, conscientious, but unmerciful police office Inspector Javert, to whom Valjean represents all that is despicable, abominable and vile in the French society at that time. The pursuit is relentless, and forms the background of the whole of the 1400-odd pages of this unabridged version of the story (available from Signet Classics).
Though the adventures that Valjean has, the chances that he gets to go back to treachery and villainy, after being given a chance at nobility, are not so easy to identify with always, but they have that ring of authenticity, that makes a work like this withstand the test of time! The story goes from place to place, always following the exploits of Valjean, though the digressions of Victor Hugo (would you believe he has written full 100-page chapters each on the Parisian sewerage system, the crime underworld existing at that time, a witness-account of the Battle of Waterloo, an obscure convent in the heart of Paris... the list, I'm afraid is too long to mention here in full! But hey, it is much more delightful to read all those detours as Hugo intended the reader to...) at times make quite a read by themselves, having not much to contribute directly to the story, except perhaps setting the context!
The French word "miserables" means both poor wretches and scoundrels or villains. The novel offers a huge cast that includes both kinds of "miserables" ...... the brave & diligent yet pathetic Fantine, the beautiful yet sad Cosette, the contemptible rogue Thenardier, the perfectionist & cruel Javert, the mercurial yet diffident and reticent Marius, the wretchedly pitiful Eponine, the exceptionally heroic Enjolras, the ebullient & fearlessly valiant Gavroche, the ......wait a minute, I am going the way of Victor Hugo, for that is what the story is like all through, no dearth of adjectives! Even when two words would have done, Hugo strives to (and I must add, quite admirably achieves to - ) give you the full rainbow of the description!
The book makes you smile, makes you laugh out, overawes you to wonder, makes you cringe in horror, causes you to weep bitterly, yet teaches you to never lose hope! Though some of the modernist readers might find the novel too romantic for their taste, even they cannot refute the strength of the convictions that the characters are shown to successfully carry! All in all, it is one of those books that reach out to you, and teach you life, as it once was, as it now is, and as it should (or is it could?) be in the future... it comes as close to life as any other book I have ever read. Probably irreproachable, in terms of sheer effect that the book has on the reader, it is a must read, independent of age! Anyone who has not read it, do yourself a favor, get a life - read this book!
Book Review: One of the greatest books ever written
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been enraptured by this novel for a few weeks now, and I can safely say that it is definitely on the short list of the greatest books ever made. Now, I know, you might be tempted to write off reading the book (it's well in excess of a thousand pages) in favor of seeing the movie or watching the musical. However, having seen both, I can say that although both are great, they are based on the book, and as such, they must necessarily lack some of the material in the book. As an illuminating, cathartic, fascinating, poignant, and grand book in every sense of the word, one would be hard-pressed to do better than Les Miserables.I know that books over a thousand pages daunt most people. The truth is, it mostly goes by quickly. There are a number of intersecting storylines, revolving around Jean Valjean, a good and honorable man brutally punished for a minor offense, and his arch-enemy Javert who sees him as less than human for stealing a loaf of bread and a gold coin. There are so many interesting personae in this tale: Marius, the melancholy romantic (and Hugo stand-in), Cosette, who develops an incredibly close connection with Valjean, the evil Thenardiers (some might not go that far, but I would), and more. There are so many characters here that the novel greatly resembles War and Peace, and the parallels are uncanny. More on that later.
As for the book itself, one couldn't ask for a better prose writer. Hugo's writing (even through translation) is clear and simple, yet can be eloquent as well. There is a profound quote or observation about every five pages, and his story unfolds at a perfect pace. The characters are often differing shades of gray rather than black and white: Valjean is a good man, and very sympathetic, but he can be selfish (as is evidenced when he is worried about Cosette falling in love with a man because he would be lonely). Javert is an unconscionable psychotic when it comes to tracking down Valjean, but he is not completely evil, as his quest is motivated for his search for justice. By this admission, he does have some integrity. All of the characters except Thenardier are very complicated and interesting, as well as tragic in their own specific ways. And in all of this, Hugo should be commended.
This book is similar to the quintessential Russian epic War and Peace by Tolstoy, of course. Both describe a dangerous and pivotal time in their respective countries, which are roughly situated at the same time in history. Both have the same honesty and penetrating insight, as well as scope and emotional impact. Both have the same flaws. Hugo (as well as Tolstoy) tends to digress from his story quite often in order to make some point about man or society, and both tend to tell long stories that have little to do with their plots. Hugo gives plenty of extraneous information, not to say that it is bad writing or uninteresting from the reader's point of view, but it is this meandering focus that hurts the novel (although some would contend that it enriches it). The fighting at Waterloo, while exciting and fascinating, amounts to over 60 pages, of which only a handful convey essential story information. There is another section covering the inner workings of a convent that goes on and on (and can just be skipped -- the actual content that takes place in the convent is less than the buildup). The stylistic convention of the time was to pause occasionally from the narrative to make an observation about humanity. Although this adds great philosophical merit to the work, sometimes we wish that Hugo would just get on with it, much like Tolstoy. It makes one wonder if they ever met. One could make the case, though, that the book's flaws make the story more appealing: it makes mistakes, just like its characters, and becomes more endearing because of them.
This is a book that is considered one of the greatest artistic triumphs in history for good reason. Read the book and understand.
Book Review: Les Miserables
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is about Jean Valjean, an ex-convict who spent 19 years in jail because he stole a loaf of bread and several attempts to escape. At Digne he is refused shelter for the night because of his yellow passport stating that he is a convict. Only bishop, Monseigneur Myriel, welcomes him. Jean Valjean repays him by stealing his silverware. The next day the police brought Jean back. The bishop however lied to the police and said that he gave it to him and Jean forgot the candleholders. Many years passed and Jean had made a new life at the town of Montreuil. He became a mayor there and started a factory. Jean changed his name to Madeleine. The book also mentioned a woman named Fantine. She leaves her child with the innkeepers, Thenardiers. She thought that her child would be taken good care of. However her child was treated as a servant. Fantine went to the factory to work. One day she was fired from the factory. She had to pay the furniture, the rent, and the Thenardiers. She didn't have enough money. She catches a fever and the mayor saw. He tried to help her by bringing her child to her, but he was too late. However mayor Madelenine had other problems. He was discovered to be Jean Valjean. He went to the Thenardies to get Fatine's child Cossette. Then he went to Paris where he stayed in a convent. Years passed, a boy named Marius went to study. He went to live in poverty. One day he saw a beautiful woman which was Cossete. He walked there everyday. One day she wasn't there. His wall had a hole in it. He looked though. He saw how poor his neighbors were. One day while he was looking through the hole he saw their friends have come over. Marius saw that one of them was Cossette. He told the neighbor's girl to find their address and he will give them anything. She found it and gave it to Marius. He went to see Cossette. They had a secret relationship. Absorbed by his love, Marius has been unaware of the deteriorating political situation. Now his private crisis is echoed by the crisis of an imminent insurrection. His Friend Enjolras directs the erection of a barricade it front of the Corinth wine shop. The first, enemy he has to deal with is found within the rebels' ranks it is Javert, who is unmasked as a spy and tied up to await execution. Marius, driven by despair, decides to seek death in the insurrection. He joins the fighters at the barricade and fights valiantly to the end. Valjean also joins the insurgents, but for special reasons. He has discovered Marius' secret relationship with Cosette and his role in the revolution. For Cosette's sake he decides to protect the life of the man he adores. Before the final assault, Valjean volunteers to execute Javert. Instead he spares the inspector's life and, sends him away. Then Valjean returns to the barricade as the few surviving defenders are driven inside the wine shop. He seizes the seriously wounded Marius, disappears into a manhole, and undertakes a heroic and harrowing passage through the sewers of Paris. Unfortunately, Javert arrests him at the exit. However, he allows Valjean to take Marius to his grandfather and later, in a quandary, he releases Valjean. But he cannot forgive himself for this breach of duty and commits suicide. In the end Marius marries Cossette. Jean tells Marius that he was a convict.I recommend this book for other readers my age because it tells that stealing is a bad thing because Jean had to spend a lot of time in jail. Also it teaches forgiveness can help sometimes like when Jean forgave and let Javert go. He caught Jean and Javert let Jean go by committing suicide.
My favorite part of this story is when Jean tries to save a sailor that was about to fall to the sea below. It showed Jean Valjean's courage. He fell into the sea after he saved the sailor, but he didn't die. This is the best book I read so far.
Book Review: Classic French Literature Restored
Summary: 5 Stars
This new unabridged version of the 1862 Victorian masterpiece by Victor Hugo is considerably long, but worth the read. Finally, the work is restored to its original magnitude. Victor Hugo was exiled from France at the time he wrote this book, and in some way, he must have felt very much like the novel's hero, Jean Valjean, treated unfairly by society as an outcast, although he is a feeling, caring and compassionate human being. Les Miserables (French for "the miserable ones"), is a heartaching, humanistic tale of love, redemption and raw human emotion. Jean Valjean is a classic hero of French literature, well-rounded, realistic and a character we suffer with and sympathize with. Imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread, he escapes and decides to steal again. He is taken into the house of a noble-hearted Bishop, who will ultimately transform him into a much better man. Jean Valjean attempts hurting the Bishop after stealing his candlesticks, but the Bishop's transcendent love and mercy makes Jean Valjean regret his base ways. A changed man, Valjean becomes an outstanding role model in the community and even major of a small town. No one knows of his past as a criminal except for-
Javert. The cruel prison guard who makes it a personal obscession to track down the escaped Valjean and bring him back to jail. Javert is a product of a society in France at the time that was strict, unmerciful and inhuman. Javer must have been drawn from some of Victor Hugo's own personal encounters with the law. Jean Valjean makes a promise to the dying prostitute Fantine, that he would care for and raise her daughter Cosette. He does a great job at being a father, although he shelters and protects her from the outside world, although Valjean's reasons are justified as he is himself trying to avoid being caught by the authorities.
Cosette falls in love with Marius Pontmercy, an upper class student who is portrayed as a poetic, romantic man. Nevertheless, at the wake of the July Revolution, Marius takes up arms to fight for a cause. Earlier in the novel, Cosette was taken in by the Thenardiers, a greedy, money-loving family who operate an inn. This is Hugo's depiction of French society at the time, how desperate people were for money that they were willing to sell even their own children to a life of labor or even prostitution. Eponine is self-sacrificing, eventhough her love for Marius is unrequited. In the novel, it is the women who are mostly virtuous and a woman, Fantine the prostitute, who brings a kind of redemption to Jean Valjean.
The ending is bittersweet, both tragic and happy. Jean Valjean dies, but Cosette and Marius are married. The novel is poignant, timeless and a literary trip worth taking. Every reader of the classics and high school or college level student should read this work. It has been the inspiration for films and even a successful Broadway musical, which is how most people get into the novel. It should be the other way around. Read the novel first. A Broadway musical is magic, but a novel is even greater because it touches you with a music few people can hear. Incidentally, the cover to this book is the poster for the musical.
Book Review: Why don't the critics rate this a Great Book?
Summary: 5 Stars
I have read and reread this book at least 5 times. And then I read it a couple of more times in French and façile à lire (easy-to-read) French. To add to my compulsion-my mother classified it thus-I saw the musical twice and bought both the English and French versions of the musical's music.I read that during the war-I forget which war-French soldiers went into battle with a copy of Les Misérables under their arm. The story of the heroism of the main character, Jean Valjean, was an inspiration to the lowly foot soldier. The story of Victor Hugo, the author, must have been an inspiration as well. Like Balzac, Hugo was active in politics. When he died the whole country went into morning and he bodied laid in state.
This novel absolutely takes my breath away as it moves from one scene to the next. It's appeal to the emotions under a less skilled novelist might have seemed corny and contrived. But with Victor Hugo it comes off as genuine and heartfelt.
How many obscure characters from this novel can you name? How about Fauchelevent. Remember him? Jean Valjean saved his life when he lifted the heavy cart that had fallen on him. Later Fauchelevent is able to repay the favor by hiding Jean Valjean and Cosette in a cloister where the gendarmes and policeman Javert cannot enter.
The musical and the various movies made about this novel cannot possibly cover that incident and the host of other little events that happen in the novel and that warm the heart. The musical and all the movies I have seen-two English and one French-skip, for example, the whole battle of Waterloo. Here is where we first meet the lowly criminal Thernadier who is robbing dead soldiers of their belonging.
I have often wondered why the great critics-Edmund Wilson, Lionel Trilling, and Harold Wilson-have not mentioned this book as one of the greatest books of all time: part of the so-called Western Canon. They don't disparage it. They just don't mention it. Maybe it's theme is too simple or it's ironies too few. Perhaps they dismiss it as ordinary entertainment not worthy of the moniker "classic".
In my mind this novel deserves such accolades as does Hugo's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame". (By the way, it peeves me that Walt Disney does not given proper, prominent credit to the authors of "The Little Mermaid" (Hans Christain Anderson) and other films. My kids used to think that Walt Disney wrote Snow White, Aladin, and others. It's almost as annoying as that Barney television show which uses the melody of famous tunes and adds their own words without credit to the original authors.)
Finally, I recommend the latest French film "Les Misérables". It retells Victor Hugo's tale against the setting of World War II and is consequently something new. Even the latest English film with Liam Neeson was a dissapointment-it told the tale exactly per the novel. But the novel was too familiar to me so I found myself predicting each scene before it happened. Liam Neeson needs to make another great film like "Schindler's List" before the horrible latest Star Wars film ruins his career.