Les Miserables (Vintage Classics)
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I sobbed and wailed and thought (books) were the greatest things Les Miserables by Victor Hugo changed my life. The first time I read the book was when I was less than eight years old. I could only understand the part about little Cosette, but that chapter really got me Financial Times Every single character is so well delineated, we all know these people and all human life is here Les Miserables One of the finest French Romantic writers Guardian This new translation...marvelously removes the yellowed varnish from Hugo's prose and gives us the racy, breathless, and passionate intelligence of the original Adam Gopnik There are plenty of translations of this extensive, exuberant novel that cut out anything superfluous. But God is in the detail, and Julie Rose has returned all the detail, making a language that is rich and gorgeous. This is the one to read... and if you are flying, just carry it under your arm as you board, or better still, rebook your holiday and go by train, slowly, page by page... The Times
Book Description
'Still grips the reader with its epic-narrative sweep and all-embracing humanitarianism' Douglas Kennedy, Sunday Times
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is one of the world's great books. The story of convict Jean Valjean and his pursuit by the morally obsessive and iron-willed detective Javert is so compelling that it remains burned into the reader's mind long after the book is finished. Valjean undergoes so many trials of fate and endurance that he emerges as almost superhuman, though always sympathetic. The evil Thenardiers are also fascinating in a macabre way. There are weaknesses: the characters of Cosette and Marius are less vivid and the latter comes across as overly self-centred and immature.
And then there are the famous digressions. Often these break up the story and, with the best will in the world, I found I had to skip them or totally lose interest in the story. But some, such as the Battle of Waterloo, are worth reading in themselves - especially if you have time. Also, there are coincidences that seem so absurd - how is Javert so often in the area when Valjean reappears - as to be off-putting, but they are so skilfully contrived that they merge into the overall picture.
I first read the book when I was much younger and found then that it made a great impression. It made an equal impression this time, especially in the excellent new translation by Australian-based Julie Rose, who also contributes a delightful preface. The language is crystal clear, though some of the slang and colloquialisms are jarring and do not really fit the atmosphere of 19th century France. But this is a small point - such a monumental work has to include everything, as Hugo intended.
And then there are the famous digressions. Often these break up the story and, with the best will in the world, I found I had to skip them or totally lose interest in the story. But some, such as the Battle of Waterloo, are worth reading in themselves - especially if you have time. Also, there are coincidences that seem so absurd - how is Javert so often in the area when Valjean reappears - as to be off-putting, but they are so skilfully contrived that they merge into the overall picture.
I first read the book when I was much younger and found then that it made a great impression. It made an equal impression this time, especially in the excellent new translation by Australian-based Julie Rose, who also contributes a delightful preface. The language is crystal clear, though some of the slang and colloquialisms are jarring and do not really fit the atmosphere of 19th century France. But this is a small point - such a monumental work has to include everything, as Hugo intended.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Vintage, once a good publisher, is now in the business of launching new, dumbed down translations of classics.
The magic word here is "new": Anything, as long as it is "new", has to be good...It is one of the most common idiocies of our "fast food" , "don't think too much"
society.
This horrible translation could have been done without even consulting the French original. John Doe could make this translation, for example. He would need to know English in depth but
he wouldn't need to know one single word in French...
All he needs to do is to get a more elaborated translation, such as the one by Charles Wilbour, and make it a little shorter, using less and "easier" words.
Then, with the right friends in the media and academic circles, he would get enthusiastic critics and his "new translation" would be a
success. Too bad for the good translations that would loose their space on the shelves of bookshops. But who cares?
If you read "Les Miserables" translated by Charles Wilbour you will have more of a "19th century experience" than if you read this dumbed down translation. You will also have a much richer vocabulary than if you read this translation by Rose something.
Oh, yes. I could have written the full name of the translator but by writing just "something" I believe that I keep in the spirit of this mediocre translation.
PS. I checked Vintage's website and it was an interesting experience because the website does reflect a publisher which is launching dumbed down translations of classics.
The website is inelegant and looks like one of those cheap, collective websites that sell everything, from tooth paste to books...
The magic word here is "new": Anything, as long as it is "new", has to be good...It is one of the most common idiocies of our "fast food" , "don't think too much"
society.
This horrible translation could have been done without even consulting the French original. John Doe could make this translation, for example. He would need to know English in depth but
he wouldn't need to know one single word in French...
All he needs to do is to get a more elaborated translation, such as the one by Charles Wilbour, and make it a little shorter, using less and "easier" words.
Then, with the right friends in the media and academic circles, he would get enthusiastic critics and his "new translation" would be a
success. Too bad for the good translations that would loose their space on the shelves of bookshops. But who cares?
If you read "Les Miserables" translated by Charles Wilbour you will have more of a "19th century experience" than if you read this dumbed down translation. You will also have a much richer vocabulary than if you read this translation by Rose something.
Oh, yes. I could have written the full name of the translator but by writing just "something" I believe that I keep in the spirit of this mediocre translation.
PS. I checked Vintage's website and it was an interesting experience because the website does reflect a publisher which is launching dumbed down translations of classics.
The website is inelegant and looks like one of those cheap, collective websites that sell everything, from tooth paste to books...
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I love this product. It arrived fast, has great quality. Very much worth the money.. so all in all it was a good purchase. Regret nothing.
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