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The Man Who Laughs: Oasis Classics Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Victor Hugo (Author), Simon Vance (Narrator), Oasis Audio (Publisher)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 199 ratings
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The Man Who Laughs

By Victor Hugo. Translated by Isabel Florence Hapgood.

The Man Who Laughs (“L’Homme qui Rit”) was called by its author “A Romance of English History,” and was written during the period Hugo spent in exile in Guernsey. Like The Toilers of the Sea, its immediate predecessor, the main theme of the story is human heroism, confronted with the superhuman tyranny of blind chance. As a passionate cry on behalf of the tortured and deformed, and the despised and oppressed of the world, The Man Who Laughs is irresistible. Of it Hugo himself says in the preface: “The true title of this book should be “Aristocracy’”—inasmuch as it was intended as an arraignment of the nobility for their vices, crimes, and selfishness. The Man Who Laughs was first published in 1869.

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  1. Listening Length
    22 hours and 28 minutes
  2. Author
    Victor Hugo
  3. Narrator
    Simon Vance
  4. Audible release date
    October 25, 2022
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Oasis Audio
  7. ASIN
    B0BK52QJF8
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 22 hours and 28 minutes
Author Victor Hugo
Narrator Simon Vance
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date October 25, 2022
Publisher Oasis Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B0BK52QJF8
Best Sellers Rank #141,359 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#3,492 in Classic Literature
#15,911 in Classic Literature & Fiction

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
199 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the story excellent. They also mention the text font is tiny and some parts are very wordy.

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StoryVisual presentation
9 customers mention "Story"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the story excellent, holds their interest from beginning to end, and is worth reading.

"...The book has alot of narrative, goes into alot more about character Gwynplaine's background with his father, Lord Clancharlie and Gwynplaine's..." Read more

"...I’m sure the story is great, hence the 5 star rating." Read more

"Great story by segments... I mean, there were some intercalated chapters providing very detailed descriptions of nobility titles and names of people..." Read more

"A great twist on history" Read more

8 customers mention "Visual presentation"0 positive8 negative

Customers find the visual presentation of the book tiny, with no typesetting and chapter titles that read like headings. They also say the text flow is screwed up and whole pages start in the middle of the page.

"I wish it was stated that the print in this is soooo small. I have to buy my daughter, who is a teen, a magnifying glass so she can read it." Read more

"...The writing isn’t even large print—I mean, it’s pretty to look at, but very unexpected size...." Read more

"Publisher cut corners to save publishing costs, small typeface , old translation uses archaic language...." Read more

"...The font is extremely small. It is so tiny it is almost painful to read. Just make the font bigger and run the book out to more pages!..." Read more

Uh...
5 out of 5 stars
Uh...
Super excited to read this book, but holy crap, it’s HUGE! I was expecting something I could carry in my purse to the coffee shop, not some coffee table art piece. The writing isn’t even large print—I mean, it’s pretty to look at, but very unexpected size.I’m sure the story is great, hence the 5 star rating.
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Top reviews from the United States

Kris
5.0 out of 5 stars Plain and simple.......fantastic
Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2013
Verified Purchase
I chose this book because it has wonderful pictures from the film that Universal did with Conrad Veidt and Mary Philbin, plus a stunning support cast. It's taking me some time to read the book, mainly because I'm not that familiar with Victor Hugo's work. I'm the type that....I saw the movie, why do I need to read the book. I obtained an excellent copy of the film, The Man Who Laughs, and have been smitten with Conrad Veidt ever since. His performance, the make-up.....you are riveted and almost forget the plot to the film. So, that's why I took the chance and found this book. ((((SPOILER ALERT))))

I like the film's from beginning-to-end alot better than the book's version. The book has alot of narrative, goes into alot more about character Gwynplaine's background with his father, Lord Clancharlie and Gwynplaine's future inheritance, etc. All in all, I'd read BOTH this book, and see the fantastic film by Universal.....just to see Conrad Veidt's performance, and the make-up. They sure don't make 'em like that anymore.
7 people found this helpful
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Marie Knue
4.0 out of 5 stars print soooo small
Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2020
Verified Purchase
I wish it was stated that the print in this is soooo small. I have to buy my daughter, who is a teen, a magnifying glass so she can read it.
5 people found this helpful
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R.C.Wilde
5.0 out of 5 stars Uh...
Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2018
Verified Purchase
Super excited to read this book, but holy crap, it’s HUGE! I was expecting something I could carry in my purse to the coffee shop, not some coffee table art piece. The writing isn’t even large print—I mean, it’s pretty to look at, but very unexpected size.

I’m sure the story is great, hence the 5 star rating.
Customer image
R.C.Wilde
5.0 out of 5 stars Uh...
Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2018
Super excited to read this book, but holy crap, it’s HUGE! I was expecting something I could carry in my purse to the coffee shop, not some coffee table art piece. The writing isn’t even large print—I mean, it’s pretty to look at, but very unexpected size.

I’m sure the story is great, hence the 5 star rating.
Images in this review
Customer image
Customer image
9 people found this helpful
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Emer Rand
5.0 out of 5 stars Greatest book ever
Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2022
Verified Purchase
Ayn Rands favorite book. Mine too.
One person found this helpful
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Ronda Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2021
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Good
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Luisfer
4.0 out of 5 stars Great story by segments...
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2014
Verified Purchase
Great story by segments... I mean, there were some intercalated chapters providing very detailed descriptions of nobility titles and names of people who bare them that I found quite distracting and boring -- many pages seemed to me as if the author just wanted to stuff up and try to lengthen the book. The story picked-up greatly after these. I would have preferred a different ending :)
4 people found this helpful
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crystal kay
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2017
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A great twist on history
One person found this helpful
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James 76
1.0 out of 5 stars Hard to enjoy
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2023
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Publisher cut corners to save publishing costs, small typeface , old translation uses archaic language. Most of the book is history essays with endless minutiae. Ending was disappointing.
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Top reviews from other countries

luis
5.0 out of 5 stars Masterpiece.
Reviewed in Spain on April 14, 2022
Verified Purchase
The slow beggining prepares the reader for an impressive developtment of the story.
It is a beautifully written book.
I enjoyed it a lot. For me, the sensation was the same as reading Hamlet: awe.
Too great to be properly judged.
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Lilly
5.0 out of 5 stars Very impressed.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 17, 2020
Verified Purchase
This is a very good edition of the book. It includes useful footnotes, introduction and many other extra information which helps you understand the book even further. I highly recommended Necropolis Press as a reliable source for university students.
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Bazza
1.0 out of 5 stars A SCAM !!!!!
Reviewed in Australia on January 17, 2021
Verified Purchase
this is missing the first half of the book !!!!
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julien
5.0 out of 5 stars wonderfull book
Reviewed in France on June 8, 2014
Verified Purchase
I don't know why I bought this book in english: I am french and can access it in the original language.
Great book anyway.
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S Houston
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 29, 2017
Verified Purchase
I watched a film version of the Man Who Laughs, and just had to read Victor Hugo's book. What an amazing story. Touching, with some of the best lines ever.
One person found this helpful
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