Enriched classics offer readers accessible editions of great works of literature enhanced by helpful notes and commentary. A clean tight firm book, fine, near as new in fine illustrated soft wraps, 12 x 9 x 18 thick, clean. The books opens by describing the life of a really upstanding dude named bishop myriel. Adam thirlwell on why victor hugos epic masterwork repays. Indeed, this 19thcentury french authors books from the epic drama les miserables to the classic unrequited love story the hunchback of notre dame have spanned the ages, their themes of morality and redemption as applicable to our times as to his. It is a book which is still as relevant today in its tale of love and redemption, as it ever was a century ago. Complete and unabridged 9781566199155 by victor hugo and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Lacroix had bought the novel sight unseen, itself something of a rarity. Sep 10, 2012 an antique les miserables edition or just a really ratty book. Nov 01, 2003 this is a very good version of the story. Hugo opens book three of les miserables by discussing the street children of paris and going through all of the different types of urchins as though they were subspecies of humanity. Jean valjean, after spending nineteen years in jail and in the galleys for stealing a loaf of bread and for several attempts to escape, is finally released, but his past keeps haunting him. Inside youll find 30 daily lessons, 20 fun activities, 180 multiple choice questions, 60 short essay questions, 20 essay questions, quizzeshomework assignments, tests, and more. This was at a time when i had just finished a grueling job rushing through 18 to 20 hour days nonstop which had lasted 7 years, and id spent much of that time dreaming of just sitting and reading long novels, without.
I was in the library only a few weeks later holding les m in my hand thinking, this looks good. Les miserables how long did it take for you to read through. The les miserables lesson plan contains a variety of teaching materials that cater to all learning styles. The extraordinary adventure of les miserables, the professor and translator david bellos condenses tranches of research into a gripping tale about victor hugos masterpiece. The normal vocal selection book is difficult to play, especially my favorite song stars which is laden with a million sharps. The movie remarkably recreates the vibrant, gritty paris of the early 1800s in a story of sin, redemption, love, violence, tragedy, and ultimately, peace and hope. The easy piano book makes it easy to play the songs while singing along. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. Jun 22, 2008 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Charles francoisbienvenu myriel has been bishop of digne for nine years. On another book, entitled philosophy of the medical science, he had written this other note. Les miserables the book by victor hugo is incredibly long, but. 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. However, this is a book which is over 100 years old and which still had the power to make me cry, not just once, but in several moments.
As many have mentioned, a very lengthy book with some possibly unnecessary discriptions but i actuallly loved this book if it was not for the length which almost destroyed me, i would have given 5 stars. It is set in france and spans the course of 17 years, starting in 1815 and ending in 1832. It also says revised and edited by frederick mynon cooper, and is by a. There were many parts where i was glued to the book, plugging through chapter after chapter wanting to see what happened next. In 1862, this french historical novel was published in the market. Two thirds of the book doesnt advance the plot, but it is a description of french life with amazing attention to detail. The title is french, translating in english to the wretched ones. You need to read this book about three times before you really appreciate it. Ten facts you didnt know about les miserables victoria. 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.
Les miserables victor hugo first edition raptis rare books. By this point in the book hugo has already made clear at preposterous length that he advocates the grandest of social. Ive not read another translation of les miserables or as this version is named the wretched and frankly i dont think ive got the time as its such a mammoth length. An active book discussion forum for both fiction and nonfiction books including forums for religion, philosophy, science, politics, current events and more. The relentless policeman javert pursues escaped convict jean valjean for years through revolutionary france. In parts of the novel, hugo temporarily breaks away from the story to discuss the moral issues and. Les miserables penguin classics hugo, victor, denny, norman, denny, norman. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. Hugo conducted thirty years of extensive research before completing the work considered to be his masterpiece. It is in really good condition, but there was no vol i either.
Compiling a list of longest novels yields different results depending on whether pages, words or characters are counted. Hugos hiding a sharp tongue beneath all the misery, and he uses it to attack the social power structures that make horrifying poverty possible in the first place. Les miserables, five volumes, complete by victor hugo. Les miserables the musical is based on victor hugos epic novel, spanning two decades in the life of jean valjean. For todays generation, the length of the story can be a bit jarring and leaves you wondering will this story ever end. In practice, the show will run a little longer or a little earlier depending mostly on the conductor, but the show runs just under 3 hours.
How many words does les miserables unabridged version by victor hugo have. Apr 30, 2016 les miserables i have been posting quotes from this book for a while now. Great ill add it to the others im going to take out. I say this book is not at all to be treated as a story. 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. The book is nearly 3,000 pages long and considered an epic. It anticipates balzac in its realism, but in its flights of imagination and lyricism, its theme of redemption, and its melding of myth and history, it is uniquely hugo dolbow, 149, 214. Therefore, i wanted to make sure as much as i could that the copy i was going to read was going to be the right one for me. 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. Les miserables achieves its immense length partly for this reason and partly because the bits of dialogue are in fact large lumps. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Jan 09, 20 both book and movie are, of course, really good in their own ways.
Les miserables or, as it is often shortened, les mis is a novel by victor hugo, published in 1862. I am a singer and novice piano player who is madly in love with the music from les miserables. It was an instant popular success and was quickly translated into several languages. Victor hugos les miserables is widely considered one of the most famous and classic pieces of world literature. Les miserables by victor hugo, first edition abebooks. Les miserables by victor hugo and a great selection of related books. Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. To ask other readers questions about les miserables, please sign up. Les miserables i have been posting quotes from this book for a while now. Its about 830 pages long, unalike the unabridged version, which is around 0. The deal, bellos points out, was pathbreaking on several levels.
The very man who is embarrassed by his name is the one. He is seventyfive years old and lives only with a sister baptistine, ten years younger than he, and an old servant, madame magloire, the same age as his sister. Les miserables, novel by victor hugo, published in french in 1862. It really is worth the read, and i do feel that the length of the story makes you empathise with the journey of jean valjean and his. Behr quotes this passage at length in behr, complete book, 3236. Les miserables tells the story of exconvict, jean valjean, and his valiant struggle to redeem his past. Do not inquire the name of him who asks a shelter of you.
Mar 23, 2017 in a new book, the novel of the century. The strange power of les mis, the book the new republic. Book v, chapters 17 summary in 1818, montreuil becomes much more prosperous than it has previously been, thanks to a mysterious stranger, m. The strange power of les mis, the book victor hugos hardnosed melodrama. Madeleine, who has established a flourishing industry that he runs not only efficiently but with much humanity. With its gargantuan length and exaggerated coincidences, les miserables is not read for its subtlety or the cleverness of the plot. A remarkable tale, beautifully told in a musical format. Facts about les miserables talk about one of the greatest novels in 19th century. Les miserables how long did it take for you to read. Each book has a certain amount of points, and i have to get atleast 140 pts. Epic book, great story and historical document very well narrated, one of the most amazing stories ever written.
I also have my patients, and then, too, i have some whom i call my unfortunates. The musical was originally shown in paris in 1980 but closed 3 months later, and in 1982, theatrical composer cameron. By this point in the book hugo has already made clear at preposterous length. Les miserables by victor hugo goodreads share book. Ive just plowed my way through les miserables, one of the longest novels there is. Les miserables spends a lot of time moaning over the poorest and most downtrodden members of french society, but dont let the sentimentalism fool you. It anticipates balzac in its realism, but in its flights of imagination and lyricism, its theme of redemption, and its melding of myth. So long as there shall exist, by virtue of law and custom, decrees of damnation pronounced by society, artificially creating hells amid the civilization of earth, and adding the element of human fate to divine destiny. The friends of the abc in victor hugos les miserables. Les miserables musical london at the queens theatre. Ten facts you didnt know about les miserables victor hugos epic has captured and wrung the hearts of millions since its publication in the 1860s. The excellence of misfortune in victor hugos les miserables.
An antique les miserables edition or just a really ratty book. Les miserables is a terrific insight into french history. Playbill gives the run time as 2 hours and 55 minutes, including 1 intermission. Buy les miserables classics by hugo, victor, denny, norman, denny, norman, denny, norman from amazons fiction books store. Because of the novels length, it can be reffered to as the brick. It takes out the long digressions of the convent, waterloo, and other dissertations, leaving a wellcut story that doesnt take out any important details.
The time period during which the story takes place was a political roller coaster for france, and hugo is a master at exploring the implications for every level of society. I just bought the volume ii book of les miserables from a local library book sale and same situation, no date. Length of a book is typically associated with its sizespecifically page countleading many to assume the largest and thickest book equates to its length. In the novel, he is of roma gypsy background, though this isnt acknowledged in the musical. Sep 26, 2012 however, this is a book which is over 100 years old and which still had the power to make me cry, not just once, but in several moments. The book has, obviously, a lot more space to work with, and this makes the story very engaging. Les miserables the book by victor hugo is incredibly long. One day, an ex convict wanders into the bishops village and cant find any food or lodging because everyone turns him away.
I had the somewhat unusual experience of reading les miserables twice over the span of a month without realizing that id done so. The grandfather and the grandson in victor hugos les miserables. Charting the life of a classic so long as ignorance and misery remain on earth, books like this cannot be useless, hugo wrote. A massive egotist, he refused to allow editors to cut any material from his book, and this results in a novel that is. See more ideas about les miserables book, les miserables and les miserables victor hugo. To be fair, i did skip over all the parts that didnt pertain to the story ie, about half of it. Despite its length, complexity, and occasionally unbelievable plot and characterization, it remains a masterpiece of popular literature. 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. How many words does les miserables unabridged version by. Each book includes educational tools alongside the text, enabling students and readers alike to gain a deeper and more developed understanding of the writer and their work. A compelling and compassionate view of the victims of early nineteenthcentury french society, les miserables is a novel on an epic scale. A compelling and compassionate view of the victims of early nineteenthcentury french society, les miserables is a novel on an epic scale, moving inexorably. Yes, it can be heavy weather in parts, but its worth the effort. See a complete list of the characters in les miserables and indepth analyses of jean valjean, cosette, javert, marius pontmercy, and fantine.
In the englishspeaking world, the novel is usually referred to by its original french title. 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. How les miserables was the biggest deal in book history. If there were one writer i would want to know on a personal basis via his work it would have been victor hugo. Something about the cover of the book looked strangely familiar. Les miserables is a french historical novel by victor hugo, first published in 1862, that is. Set during the period 1815 to 1832 in france, countless people have enjoyed this novel about jean. 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. Hugos hiding a sharp tongue beneath all the misery, and he uses it to attack the social power structures that.
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