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Overview
Overview
A thrilling tale of narrow escapes, romance in the midst of a revolution, and battlefield heroism, Victor Hugo's sprawling 1862 novel focuses on the Parisian underworld. Ex-convict Jean Valjean, who served 19 years in prison for stealing bread, attempts to redeem his life by helping the downtrodden. But his every move is dogged by the implacable policeman, Inspector Javert, whose relentless pursuit of a reformed criminal reflects a morally empty state that values retribution rather than justice.
One of the first modern novels, Les Mis rables took the unprecedented step of featuring a working-class hero and examining society's role in fostering crime and criminal behavior. Its portrait of altruism in the face of misery, poverty, and injustice is memorable for its vivid characterizations and its gripping plot, which unfolds in the manner of a detective story. An instant success around the world upon its initial publication, the book has inspired countless dramatic adaptations, including one of the world's longest-running musicals, and is routinely ranked among the top 100 novels of all time.
One of the first modern novels, Les Mis rables took the unprecedented step of featuring a working-class hero and examining society's role in fostering crime and criminal behavior. Its portrait of altruism in the face of misery, poverty, and injustice is memorable for its vivid characterizations and its gripping plot, which unfolds in the manner of a detective story. An instant success around the world upon its initial publication, the book has inspired countless dramatic adaptations, including one of the world's longest-running musicals, and is routinely ranked among the top 100 novels of all time.
- Format: TradePaperback
- Author: Hugo, Victor
- ISBN: 9780871292872
- Condition: Used
- Publication Year: 1987
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A human epic well worth the time.
Rick S. - 8 years 3 months agoThis massive novel (most editions clock in at around 1400 pages) is a daunting and time-consuming but ultimately rewarding experience. The themes of redemption, forgiveness and social justice are timeless and reflect a complex picture of the many facets of human experience, as seen through the life of ex-convict Jean Valjean and the people whom his life touches. While Hugo digresses on a number of subjects, including Napoleon, monasticism and the history of the Paris sewers, these digressions serve to build an engrossing world in which the story is placed. Hugo does a magnificent job of portraying good and evil, justice and injustice, without resorting to standard archetypes of heroes and villains: all of his characters are sympathetic in some way and each shows the potential for becoming either. This book is both long and very dense, so be sure that you will have enough time on your hands to get through it (it took me almost 3 months), but even a glance into it again makes me want to go back and experience it again.
HPB Staff Review