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| Les Miserables (Classics) | 
 enlarge | Author: Victor Hugo
Creator: Norman Denny
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Category: Book
List Price: £10.99
Buy Used: £0.01
You Save: £10.98 (100%)
New (42) from £5.37
Avg. Customer Rating:  26 reviews
Sales Rank: 19447
Media: Paperback
Edition: Reprint
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 1232
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.8
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.3 x 2.2
ISBN: 0140444300
Dewey Decimal Number: 843.7
EAN: 9780140444308
ASIN: 0140444300
Publication Date: April 24, 2003
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Another Classic Novel By Hugo August 18, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Les Miserables is a suberb classical novel which has stood the test of time. It's cleverly composed prose juxtaposed with the plot place it in the category of the all-time greats. Admittedly it does get slightly depressing in parts, but it adds to the effect of what Hugo was trying to achieve in portaying 19th century France. I may be wrong but I thought the story was an allegory for the real state of France at that time. Prior knowledge of France at this time would be useful but not essential. I say this because the chapters surrounding the battle of waterloo get confusing and knowledge of the Napoleonic era would make it less perplexing.Nonetheless, as previously stated, this knowledge is not essential as I got along fine. Basically the plot follows Jean Valjean, a released convict who was imprisoned for 19 years for stealing bread for his starving family. It folows his rise and fall as Mayor of Montriel-Sur-Mer, progressing through to his journeys as a vagabond. A great classic recommended to everyone fond of archaic literature
 A great literary masterpiece and a fine French history lesson! June 29, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Les Miserables is justifiably known as a great literary masterpiece. However, I had hitherto neither read the book nor seen the show. I am now so pleased that I have read the book before seeing the show and I am sure that I will enjoy the latter so much more through having enjoyed so greatly the former. This edition, translated by Norman Denny, runs to more than 1,200 pages and Mr Denny makes the point in his introduction that Victor Hugo's original contains 'digressions,' meaning that, to some readers at least, certain sections of the book, maybe some 100 pages or more in total, may appear to 'digress' from the principal 'plot.' But even the 'digressions' are valuable, for they give to the less knowledgeable - such as myself - a fine lesson in French history, as does the 'plot' itself. Victor Hugo takes the reader through some of France's most turbulent times, from before the Revolution of 1789, through the Empire of the first Napoleon, and to and beyond the further Revolution of 1848. If one were wanting to be flippant, it would appear that the French were for ever revolting and for ever at the barricades. I do not wish to be flippant, however, and this great tome charts the progress or otherwise of French affairs through the late eighteenth and early to mid-nineteenth centuries with inimitable flair and profound knowledge, for the author lived through most of it, even suffering temporary exile from France when he crossed the authorities of Napoleon III. It is against the background of such ongoing turbulence (which explains so much of later French history) that the immensely moving and complicated tales of Jean Valjean and Cosette and Marius and all of the other larger-than-life characters are told. To those readers with the willingness to spend more than the average time on a tremendous and unforgettable work, this is for you. Read it and then see the show!
 Abridged! February 20, 2007
10 out of 11 found this review helpful
My 'rating' isn't for this first-class story; it's the way this book is presented. I know, in the detail, it mentions that it's abridged, but this should be made clearer in the initial information right at the top.
As I'm sure many people feel, I've wasted my money as I will now have to go out and buy the genuine article.
Life Changing Awesome Book October 19, 2006
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
This my one book in a life time book.
The theme or plot might be familiar to a lot of people since it is that of The Fugitive, one of the main characters is a former criminal turned good and he is pursued by the by the book copper who has a very myopic and blinkered view of life, their eventual meeting and the fall out from it is nothing short of awe inspiring and heart rending, also while the book entertains and draws the reader in it is never for an instant melodramatic or incredible, not once but a few times I simply read it with a sad smile and said to myself, yeah, life is like that.
The other characters, the declasse intellectual, the street urchin, the would be revolutionary mob, the woman who sells herself for bread and sacrifices everything for her daughter while she can, Hugo is a genius and he could bring it all to life.
Second to none, I've read all of his books and I believe that our age or any other hasnt seen a rival, expect perhaps Shakespeare.
A timeless masterpiece August 9, 2005
21 out of 23 found this review helpful
If a novel is an artistic piece of creativity, requiring the right tones, contrasts, and combination of elements to create the perfect masterpiece, then Hugo's Les Miserables epitomises such a work.
Beginning with a touching portrayal of a lonely and selfless Bishop, the reader is introduced to the central theme of Hugo's timeless classic, grace. Hugo carefully crafts a tale that brings the reader to a realisation that no one is beyond redemption, beyond change, and beyond atonement, yet the state and man have an inability to recognise this.
Many shades of the man himself are found within his work, the frequent references he makes to historical events he himself he has experienced, and his own political views. Through Hugo's writing one can discern that life, truth, and justice are never a two dimensional affair, and adherence to rules, regulation and authority can tear ones life apart, and unduly harm the undeserving. Championing the underdogs, the outcasts, to whom the title refers, Hugo constructs a classic narrative examining the true meanings of social justice, all revolving around the character of Jean Valjean and his selfless sacrifices and devotion to his foster daughter Cosette.
Hugo treats the reader with a sense of respect, assuming the reader is intelligent enough to unearth the subtle clues he leaves, never giving away more information than necessary. His method of story telling keeps the reader uncertain, yet intrigued, towards the course of events, flowing like a like a mountain stream, uncertain like a jigsaw puzzle, and all assembling towards a heart touching conclusion.
As the translator notes in the introduction, the most important part of translation is not to capture the literal meaning, rather the authors intent. His intent in descriptive powers has been rendered immaculately in this fine translation, but his intent towards the reader can be no more aptly described than the change of outlook one gains from reading this, making it a pleasure for the mind and soul. Hugo once remarked, "as long as there is misery, injustice and destitution there will be a need for my book." Indeed Hugo was correct, and perhaps if more people discovered this treasure the world would be a better place.
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