Les Misérables is set in the Parisian underworld. The protagonist, Jean Valjean, is sentenced to prison for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread. After his release, Valjean plans to rob monseigneur Myriel, a saint-like bishop, but cancels his plan. However, he forfeits his parole by committing a minor crime, and for this crime Valjean is haunted by the police inspector Javert. Valjean eventually reforms and becomes, under the name of M. Madeleine, a successful businessman, benefactor, and mayor of a northern town. To save an innocent man, Valjean gives himself up and is imprisoned in Toulon. He escapes and adopts Cosette, an illegitimate child of a poor woman, Fantine. Cosette grows up and falls in love with Marius, who is wounded during a revolutionary fight. Valjean rescues Marius by means of a flight through the sewers of Paris. All seems headed for a happy ending until Javert shows up again and this leads to an incredible climax.
--This text refers to the
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About the Author
David Case is the founder and current president of Live Free Ministries, a ministry dedicated to restoring kingdom power and authority to spiritual leadership. Since the early 1990s, David Case has held retreats for both pastors and lay persons, helping them break through bondages and pointing them toward fulfilling the call of God on their lives. Having pastored the same church for eighteen years, Pastor Case gives other pastors the tools they need to implement the lifegiver model into a whole-church setting. Case also co-hosts a radio program and ministers internationally. It is David Case's heart to blend "the supernatural of the spiritual realm" with a very solid application into the natural realm.
Victor Hugo (1807-1885)was a novelist, poet and dramatist, and the most important of the French Romantic writers. He began to write at a very young age and wrote over fifty novels and plays; including Les Miserables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By eek247
Amazon Verified Purchase
Re: Les Miserables.
This abridged version is riddled with typos which makes it extremely hard to read. For example, Page 7: Pbudence; Pg 9, The Heroism op Passive Obedience; Pg 19, Petit Gebvai8; Pg 22: To Entkust. These I saw just scanning through quickly. This is a very poor product!
In case the link doesn't work for some reason, the front cover has Les Miserables, Victor Hugo on a tan background. The inside title page has Les Miserables, Victor Hugo and Mead Schaeffer, General Books, www.General-Books.net. 391 pages.
This abridged version is riddled with typos which makes it extremely hard to read. For example, Page 7: Pbudence; Pg 9, The Heroism op Passive Obedience; Pg 19, Petit Gebvai8; Pg 22: To Entkust. These I saw just scanning through quickly. This is a very poor product!
In case the link doesn't work for some reason, the front cover has Les Miserables, Victor Hugo on a tan background. The inside title page has Les Miserables, Victor Hugo and Mead Schaeffer, General Books, www.General-Books.net. 391 pages.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
How do we even begin to review a book like Les Miserables? Seriously, we'd love some assistance over here. We'll do our best to express our thoughts, but be forewarned that conflicting opinions are posturing to be heard. The fact that Jean Valjean is our new fiction role model is one matter not up for debate!
Providing any kind of comprehensive summary for this novel is far too ambitious for our tastes. Fortunately, all any prospective reader needs to know is that there's a thief, a police inspector, an ill-treated girl, a lawyer, and all kinds of various miscreants. Against a backdrop of war and revolution the fates of said characters are intertwined to create all kinds of high drama, treachery, and feats of strength.
Les Miserables is a beautifully written, epic masterpiece that far exceeded our expectations. Admittedly, we had been dreading this read for several months so the bar was set pretty low. And at 500,000 plus words, we just wanted to survive until the end... Not only did we survive, but we were left with a new appreciation for the history of France and all kinds of weighty social questions to ponder. Les Miserables is a book of despair and second chances. Most importantly, the novel is about the many choices that ultimately define a person's life.
In our opinion the characters were the strongest aspect of the book. There was a good bit about the battle of Waterloo that critics have swooned over, but those parts were overshadowed by the presence of Jean Valjean and Inspector Javert. Both of these characters had the ability to add instant "hold-on-because-something-big-is-about-to-happen" to the plot. Jean Valjean was fascinating and his character provided so much hope for the human spirit. The character of Javier was equally remarkable in his single-mindedness towards order and law, although not quite as likeable. Okay, his likeability hardly registered... but he was still an interesting character.
Our only annoyance with Les Miserables was all the tedious digressions littered throughout. We sat through entire chapters dedicated to the appropriateness of slang in literature and the complex, yet often inadequate use of the Paris sewer system. Why do so many "long" novels feel the need to add these sleepy asides? Admittedly, not all the extra bits failed to grab our attention and some of the commentary was actually interesting, especially the few drunken rants that helped set the atmosphere. Still, in the end, we just wanted to get back to the main storyline.
Overall, Les Miserables was beautiful and emotional throughout. The end in particular wasn't rushed and fit nicely with the rest of the novel (this is a big deal for us). We have a new fondness for silver candlesticks and experienced one of the most epic wedding speeches of all time. Now we're out of breath.... long live Jean Valjean!
Providing any kind of comprehensive summary for this novel is far too ambitious for our tastes. Fortunately, all any prospective reader needs to know is that there's a thief, a police inspector, an ill-treated girl, a lawyer, and all kinds of various miscreants. Against a backdrop of war and revolution the fates of said characters are intertwined to create all kinds of high drama, treachery, and feats of strength.
Les Miserables is a beautifully written, epic masterpiece that far exceeded our expectations. Admittedly, we had been dreading this read for several months so the bar was set pretty low. And at 500,000 plus words, we just wanted to survive until the end... Not only did we survive, but we were left with a new appreciation for the history of France and all kinds of weighty social questions to ponder. Les Miserables is a book of despair and second chances. Most importantly, the novel is about the many choices that ultimately define a person's life.
In our opinion the characters were the strongest aspect of the book. There was a good bit about the battle of Waterloo that critics have swooned over, but those parts were overshadowed by the presence of Jean Valjean and Inspector Javert. Both of these characters had the ability to add instant "hold-on-because-something-big-is-about-to-happen" to the plot. Jean Valjean was fascinating and his character provided so much hope for the human spirit. The character of Javier was equally remarkable in his single-mindedness towards order and law, although not quite as likeable. Okay, his likeability hardly registered... but he was still an interesting character.
Our only annoyance with Les Miserables was all the tedious digressions littered throughout. We sat through entire chapters dedicated to the appropriateness of slang in literature and the complex, yet often inadequate use of the Paris sewer system. Why do so many "long" novels feel the need to add these sleepy asides? Admittedly, not all the extra bits failed to grab our attention and some of the commentary was actually interesting, especially the few drunken rants that helped set the atmosphere. Still, in the end, we just wanted to get back to the main storyline.
Overall, Les Miserables was beautiful and emotional throughout. The end in particular wasn't rushed and fit nicely with the rest of the novel (this is a big deal for us). We have a new fondness for silver candlesticks and experienced one of the most epic wedding speeches of all time. Now we're out of breath.... long live Jean Valjean!
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Susan Dewey
Format:MP3 CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Although this is listed as "unabridged" the packaging that arrived was in fact an abridged version of Les Miserable. On the plus side it is well recorded and plenty long enough to last for many trips to work.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic study of humanity.
This is the third or fourth time I have read the book. Always discover something I missed before. It can be a distracting read where Mr. Hugo rambles on at times. Read more
Published 2 months ago by GrammieB
5.0 out of 5 stars
An epic story well worth reading!
After seeing the most recent release of Les Miserables, my friend and I were so moved by this story we purchased and watched all the older film versions, the 10th anniversary and... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Diane4jesus
5.0 out of 5 stars
What? No singing?
I read the whole thing and not once did anyone hold an entire conversation in song. What gives Victor?
No publisher would touch a book like Les Miserable today. Read more
No publisher would touch a book like Les Miserable today. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Ron D Smith
4.0 out of 5 stars
good
good. came on time. package wasn't damaged. m m m m m m m m m mm m m m
Published 3 months ago by D. Pignetti
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing story!
Les Misérables is one of my favorites stories of all time. I've seen the musical (the 25th anniversary) so many times I lost count. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Stephanie Verhaegen
1.0 out of 5 stars
Hardly a Premium Edition-update
I knew this was a paperback but from the appearance on the product information I thought at almost $30 it would make a nice gift. Read more
Published 14 months ago by R. Brockman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Obra cumbre
Para mi gusto, "Los miserables constituye la obra cumbre de la literatura universal. Las andanzas del protagonista conforman un crisol de sensaciones y emociones que no... Read more
Published 15 months ago by felix
3.0 out of 5 stars
Font is itty bitty
You had better be very young to handle the size of the print in this one. I am not sure a old duffer like myself will be able to read more than 1 or at best 2 pages a day!
Published 16 months ago by Richard L. Stover
5.0 out of 5 stars
A story within history.
France has such a complicated history. Les Miserable not only creates vivid characters but places them in a huge and meaningful landscape.
Published 18 months ago by jetpace@aol.com
4.0 out of 5 stars
Discovered great story
I had recently watched the PBS musical of the story, and realized the beautiful plot, that I had never successfully read previously to my recall. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Jade Marie
