Rating: 
Summary: Great
Review: You may think that this is a stuffy, hard to read book, the kind you might read in English class. I certainly did. But when I had to read it for an assignment, I was blown away. I read it over the course of two weeks, the last half in one weekend, because it was so absorbing I couldn't put it down (Okay, I had a deadline. But I wouldn't have put it down anyway).
The story is about a man unjustly convicted and sent to jail. He gets out, and along the way is trailed by and evil policeman, Javert, rescues a prostitute, raises her daughter, and participates in the French Revolution. The story is gripping, and even though there are lots of characters and subplots that don't seem nessecery, they all come togeather in the end.
This is a great book and I would reccommend it to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: The 19th Century's Most Important Book
Review: This book is so good, it's almost worth learning French just to read this one book in its original form.Imagine, if you will, the United States in the year 1862. Hundreds of thousands of men lining up, ready to kill each other. But when they retire to their tents, seeking an escape from the horrors of war, what are they reading? Uncle Tom's Cabin? Some other Great American Novel? No! They're all reading Les Miserables! North and South, officer and enlisted, anyone who knew how to read was reading this book. If this book touched off such a firestorm in the US, you can only imagine what it did in Europe--or France. Of course, Louis Napoleon couldn't have liked it too much--but what could he do to Hugo? After all, he wrote this book in exile. And that's really what Les Miserables all about--Hugo's life, his thoughts, and his conception of the struggle of the oppressed against the oppressors, the redemption of those who do Wrong Things, and the inevitable weight of history and Providence on everything. Hugo captures archetypes in very real characters, many of them based on real people. The saintly Bienvenu. The redeemed thief Valjean. Fantine, the mother who does everything--and I do mean everything--to provide for her child. Javert, the possessed, self-righteous, self-appointed agent of Divine Justice. The delightfully wicked Thenardiers. The sharp street urchin Gavroche--who will be borrowed later in several stories by Charles Dickens. The tragically idealistic Enjolras. The tormented and conflicted Marius. And, finally, Cosette, the focus of most of the book, and the key to Marius' survival. All of these characters are vivid and timeless, yet linked to recognizable archetypes and also to events surrounding the restoration of the monarchy to France. In turn, these characters became new archetypes, and they are further recognizable in later literature. This book is therefore foundational to modern Western literature. Many readers express annoyance with Hugo's infamous digressions throughout the story, but if you reread those "boring" details, you will see that they all have purpose. For example, the account of the Battle of Waterloo is merely there to set up the link between two characters. I think that's brilliant--though I reluctantly agree that he pulls this trick maybe a couple of times too many. If you don't know enough history to fully understand where Hugo is going in his digressions, that's OK--get a good study aid (something better than Cliff's Notes) that explains the cultural context of each chapter. This will help you get through the "boring" parts, and I think you'll find that there's not really anything about this book that can be called boring. Whatever you do, read the unabridged version. Abridgements of this great work are a Crime Against Nature and should be banned. (Just kidding.)
Rating:
Summary: A timeless classic!
Review: The drama of Les Miserables unfolds in France during the French Revolution. It is a story that exudes both tragedy and hope...love and hate...and the belief that everyone can start over with a 'clean slate' if they have the courage and willpower to do so. At the outset we are introduced to the main character, Jean Valjean, an atoned convict who reverses his wrong course in life and eventually develops into the benevolent and gentle Mayor of Montreuil (a prosperous small town in France). Inspector Javert, who served as Valjean's prison guard decades ago in Paris, moves to the town of Vigo. Much to Valjean's dismay, Javert eventually recognizes the Mayor as an ex-convict. From then on, Inspector Javert swears revenge against Valjean - seeking to expose him as an ex-convict and have him taken into custody. This is in keeping with Javert's personal maxim: "once bad, always bad." After Valjean realizes Javert has recognized him, he goes into hiding after being entrusted with the care of a young orphan girl. Valjean and the little girl, who he raises as a daughter, restart a life of anonymity away from the bitter Javert (who will stop at nothing to recapture Valjean). Almost a decade later, the obsessed Javert again catches up with Valjean and the reader is brought along on the adventure to a poignant culmination.
Rating:
Summary: Must Read
Review: This book is unabridged and Victor Hugo during his age thought he had all the answers to all the questions: hence, this book can become longwinded at times. Nonetheless, this is perhaps my favorite fiction book because the length of the book allows for a plot to unravel slowly and to be extremely intricate. Ever read a novel and wish it were twice as long? Well, this book is three to six times the length of most modern novels. Although one can skip 10-30 pages at times without missing a beat (due to Hugo philosophising about certain issues of importance to him or to his era and not to many now), this book is tough to put down. I think I read it in three weeks. I would encourage all readers to pick this up and get lost in the world created by Hugo.
Rating:
Summary: Les Miserables: The complete and unabridged version
Review: When you first take a glance at Les Miserables, you might be deterred by the daunting size and number of pages. But by the time you flip past the first page, the size doesn't seem to matter anymore. Once submerged in the complications and daily adventures of France's underworld, there is no turning back-the pages practically turn themselves.
The story is based on the hero Jean Valjean. A convict, Valjean can make you feel his passions and sorrows without overdoing it. It is easy to identify with this character on an emotional level. As prisoner 24, 601, he finally gets released from prison. But in the 1800s in France, his release hardly means that he is free.
From the walls and endless struggle of imprisonment, Les Miserables follows Jean Valjean's journey through his inner and outer turmoil. Adventure and tension find him on every corner, and seem to enjoy ruining his life. During the strolls through Paris, Hugo paints the raw emotion and reality of the gutters of France in such a way that you can almost feel their presence as you turn the pages.
The different stories and characters all woven together (numerous, indeed, but one can hardly expect less from a novel of such large proportions) are all three-dimensional and believable. If you took a walk through the streets in any city today, it is certain that you could find a matching description in the novel for anyone on the sidewalk.
Hugo's descriptions throughout the book are lengthy and detailed-occasionally exhaustingly so. Every bit of France is crammed between the covers, as well as the author's criticisms and praises of French society. While there is excitement and adventure, chapters are equally laced with historical input, philosophy, and political viewpoints. There is an extensive portrayal of Napoleon's battle at Waterloo, and his impact on the families and supporters of the French government, as well as the rules of both religion and the caste system. This novel is a great read for anyone with even the slightest bit of knowledge of French history.
Throughout the book, Valjean experiences many universal epiphanies, and it makes you wonder how Hugo can go about teaching this character so much and still refrain from preaching at the reader.
There is a raw emotion about Les Miserables that brings forth a reality. A reality that says that life isn't easy for everyone, and life certainly is never perfect-which is something that we all know. But seeing the misery and suffering scrawled across the pages some alive in your mind is a powerful revelation for anyone.
Victor Hugo's Les Miserables is a book that will change your life in ways wither big or small. It is a book not just meant to be read, but to be understood and valued in its entirety.
Rating:
Summary: Classic French Literature Restored
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Vive le Republique
Review: I love this book. Yes, it is long, yes there are random tangents that hardly affect the story, and yes, it can appear terrifying upon a first look. But it is worth it. I saw the musical version of Les Miserables first, and fell in love. So I immediately had to have the book. I know there are several translations out there and I haven't read any of the others, but I must say that Norman Denny's is very good. I think he does justice to what Victor Hugo was trying to say, and doesn't change anything too drastically. Being someone who has not always loved classics, I was surprised to even like this at all. However, I had already read The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and liked it a lot, so that probably helped. I think that everyond who reads this will find at least one character in the story to relate to. We all have a bit of each of them in us: Jean Valjean, the generous yet suffering man who helps anyone who needs it; Javert, a relentless victim of society of the time who falls into utter despair; Enjolras, the rebellious and spirited student who has a belief strong enough to die for; Cosette, the angel who seems to view society as someone who is not part of it; Marius, the hopeless romantic; Eponine, a victim to everything that is bad in society yet still kind-hearted; the Thenardiers, the wicked, only in it for the money; Fantine, a female version of Valjean; and above all Grantaire, the one who claims to believe in nothing, takes no sides, but is in the middle of the fighting anyway. Therefore, I think anyone could enjoy this book. The characters seem real, and although much of the plot is very improbable, it is still one of the most moving stories I've ever read.
Rating:
Summary: Not the translation I read... but shouldn't matter
Review: There are classics. Then there are CLASSICS. Then... well, then there's Les Mis. Yes, it's 1200 pages long. Yes, it does get sidetracked giving painstakingly detailed information about things that barely relate to the story (if you don't know what a gamin is or the exact details of the battle of Waterloo... you will!). Yes, there are more characters than you can keep track of without taking notes. But it's still possibly the greatest work of fiction ever written in any language or time period. Victor Hugo takes the suffering of the masses and gives it a name and a face. He delves deep into troubled souls and brings them to light. All this is wrapped in a magnificent tale of redeption, justice, and mercy in the setting of France just as the dust of the revolution is settling. If it doesn't bring tears to your eyes, you have a heart of stone. He takes his time developing characters, but they become so real, so human, that you would swear they're the guys next door. Seriously, there's a guy at my church who when I first met him, my first thought was "OMG... it's Enjolras!" You may have seen movie versions, the play (which I'm dying to see), or read paraphrases. These simply don't do the whole work justice. It's impossible to fit such a convoluted story with its complex characters into a two-hour time frame.
For example, in the '98 film version, Marius was made the leader of the Friends of the ABC. He went to the barricade despite his love for Cosette because he believed in the revolution so strongly. However, that's really an oversimplification. He did have connections with the Friends of the ABC, but had no intention of going to the barricade (a sure death warrant). He loved Cosette too much for that. However, when a series of events made their marriage impossible and then the revolutionaries said they needed his help, he went with them out of sheer despair, basically committing suicide. There's a whole level of depth that you just can't experience any other way. (Even if someone were to make a 15-hour 'epic' film version, it couldn't capture the thoughts and emotions of the characters or all the backstory, so it still wouldn't be nearly as rich.)
Good versions capture the spirit of the story, but there is just no substitute for the real thing. In short, if you haven't read it yet... do!
Rating:
Summary: les miserables
Review: Les miserables by victor hugo, is an intreging novel filled with immense emotion. The author has you on the edge of your seat leaving you filled with anticipation, pity, joy, and hatred. Throughout the novel a love affear is created making a romantic jist to the story. The main character suffers so greatly it makes you understand the lifestyle of people in all classes during the french revolution. I highly recomend this story for all readers , due to the fact that it has a variety of themes. At the end of the story you are left with tears of both sadness and joy due to the beautiful character victor Hugo created as jean valjean. A man so kind and perfect it's hard to resist the temation of feeling a part of the story. I truelly enjoyed reading this book, it intertained me as well as teaching me a lesson about the french revolution in an indirect way.
Rating:
Summary: Les Miserables - A Classical and a Masterpiece
Review: What to say about this huge and fantastic masterpiece? It's incredible from the beginning to the end, the redemption of Jean Valjean, the obssession of Jarvet, the love of Marius and Cossete, the tragedies of Fantine, the evil Thenardie, the revolution of 1832,its an historical book with an incredible romance. The book is a fine exemple of the romantic literature from de XIX century and shows with passion and reality France and the city of Paris like they were. For the ones who said that the meetings of the caracters happened in an absurd way, I just have one thing to say: its a novel, its a fiction with a little of reality, its a great book and one of the most importants of the literature, Les Miserables is the reality from yesterday similar of the reality of today, after 150 years still teach us some valuable lessons...
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