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With an Introduction and Notes by Roger Clark, University of Kent at Canterbury. Translation by Charles E. Wilbour (1862). One of the great classics of western literature, 'Les Miserables' is a magisterial work which is rich in both character portrayal and meticulous historical description. Characters such as the absurdly criminalised Valjean, the street urchin Gavroche, the rascal Thenardier, the implacable detective Javert, and the pitiful figure of the prostitute Fantine and her daughter Cosette, have entered the pantheon of literary dramatis personae. The reader is also treated to the unforgettable descriptions of the Battle of Waterloo and Valjean's flight through the Paris sewers. Volume 1 of 2 AUTHOR: Victor Hugo's life (1802-1885) spanned most of the nineteenth century, and no other author portrays that turbulent period of French history than Hugo; on his death, he was accorded a state funeral. He achieved excellence throughout his huge body of work, but his two lasting achievements are 'Les Miserables' (1862) and 'Notre Dame de Paris', now more commonly known as 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame'.… (more)
User reviews
The truth is, I didn't finish this book, but abandoned it halfway through. Everything started to just be
On reading Les Miserables, I felt as if I was stuck in a room with Victor Hugo. He was sitting well back in his chair with his hands on his head and one ankle resting on the other knee, and he was holding forth at great and unecessary length on all his opinions, prejudices and advice-to-the-less-learned. This book is not so much a book, as Hugo pinning you down and telling you all the deep thoughts he had while sitting alone in the pub the night before. And the pity of it is, Hugo is not George Eliot, or E.M Forster, or any of the many other writers I understand use the novel to present their insightful ideas and philosophies. The sad fact is, Hugo is simply a prejudiced and strong-minded old man.
At first I enjoyed it. I liked his digressions (still do prefer them to the actual story) and liked arguing with his opinions in my head. Meeting his type of person in real life can be entertaining, even endearing, in small doses. If Les Miserable had been half its length, I would be prepared to accept its place as a classic. As it is... again I ask: why?
As a P.S. I will add - I am sure reading it in English is at least half the reason I didn't love it as so many people do. I believe the original French is full of subtle word-play and beauty that can't be transferred to English. If I ever become fluent in French, I shall revisit Friend Hugo and see what I think of him then.