Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
A timeless masterpiece, 9 Aug 2005
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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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
Les Miserables is the best book I've read yet., 12 Nov 2003
Unlike most people, I didn't actually see the musical before I decided to read the book. I listened to the recording of it. Then I had to raise money for a school trip, and mum said she'd pay me £5 if I read Les Miserables. So ... I thought oh no, this is going to be long, boring and difficult. Well, it was long. And in some places difficult. But definetly definetly definetly not boring. It's such an amazing book that after I read it I thought I might as well not bother reading anything else, because nothing would ever top it. And there's no excuse for how old you are either, cos I'm just 13!
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
Beautiful, 16 Jan 2002
By A Customer
This book is complexly written and with extremely diverse vocabulary - both in english and in the french excerpts within this book. The theme of sorrow is developed and converged from various angles in an elegant portrayal that recurs on several ocassions. The overall result: thought provoking self-diagnoses that leaves the reader inspired (if not over-whelmed) by the author's vivid imagination. The author has delicately intertwined religion, politics, love, vengeance, suspense, sorrow and various other themes in an altogether historic France...simply beautiful. Indeed one of the greatest books ever written.
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