| | |  | Books | Home » » » Les Misérables (Signet Classics) | | | | | | | Product Promotions: | | | | | Description: | | The first volume of five that comprise Victor Hugo's masterpiece Les Miserables. Each volume is lightweight-a more friendly and convenient approach than a 1,200-page version; and legible-no squinting required. The five books that complete this set can be found simply by copying and pasting each ISBN into Amazon's search field. Volume One: Fantine, 1449565468; Volume Two: Cosette, 1449565530; Volume Three: Marius, 1449565573, Volume Four: Saint-Denis, 144956562X; Volume Five: Jean Valjean, 1449565646. | | | Features: | |
• ISBN13: 9780451525260
• Condition: New
• Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
| | | Product Details: | | | Author:
| Victor Hugo | | Mass Market Paperback:
| 1488 pages | | Publisher:
| Signet Classics | | Publication Date:
| March 03, 1987 | | Language:
| English | | ISBN:
| 0451525264 | | Package Length:
| 6.9 inches | | Package Width:
| 4.0 inches | | Package Height:
| 2.2 inches | | Package Weight:
| 1.25 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 279 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
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Worth to be read and kept in your bookcaseAug 31, 2010
This is a great classic novel that have got what it takes to becomes a great piece of universal literature
In Les Miserables it is possible to find merged various aspects related to France at the turn of the 19th century, on one hand the political events related to the internal strife between Napoleonic and forces loyal to the Monarchy and on the other the social economic situation of the French society at that time.
The story was divided into 5 great sections, that can be read together in one unabridged book or separated, as all of them are linked by the main character, Jean Valjean, the former starving poor convict, turned into an affluent righteous man, who happens to adopt and raise a ravenous little girl, Cosette (the destitute), who had been given up for adoption by her dirt-poor mother to a ruthless, devious couple
Even though very long, almost 1500 pages (I am referring to the unabriged version), the story runs smoothly, without bumps, and puts its focus in two historical events, one, the battle of Waterloo and the other the barricades, erected in Paris during the uprising generated in the French revolution, in these two events too many unnecessary details are uncovered, and I just have found this a little boring. Fortunately this is less than 10 % percent of the unabridged version.
To make up for that, the author, has deftly developed an array of very colorful characters of different social classes who represent the society of France of that time.
The end does not disappoint, however, the novel was not planned to makee the reader craving for the resolution of the ending but for making him delve on the events, and situations, in order to find the scattered rich gems of wisdom, the author, dropped in most of the chapters and to learn a bit about the French History
Victor Hugo, showed that he despised the explotaition of the destitute and the poor masses by the rich and also that exercised a powerful ethical thinking coupled with a deep religious conviction.
A French ClassicJul 24, 2010
I've seen the Broadway play three times (beyond wonderful), but up until now, I had never read the book. While the play is excellent, it certainly does not capture all elements of this weighty novel. For a long time I've wondered why Victor Hugo's "Les Miserables" is considered quintessential to the people and nation of France. The play captures aspects of this, but fails to accurately portray its essentiality to all things French. Hugo, in the novel, is brilliant. The complete novel is a history of France from the mid-18th century through the mid-19th century. The Bourbon Monarchy, French Revolution, the Napoleonic Campaigns, Waterloo, the post-Napoleon years, and the conflicts making the modern state of France are all thoroughly discussed. Hugo presents characters symbolic of each of the elements. The story is masterful. The details - well, the book is very detailed - sometimes to the point of too much information. But you definitely get the impression you are reading an epic work, matched by only a few other books. I now know why Hugo is buried so prominently beneath the Arch de Triumphe.
0 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 Incredible but flawed novelJul 19, 2010
This is probably the most flawed novel I've read so far, I really wish I could ignore the dreadful "filler" chapters (The Waterloo essay almost made me put down this book: is almost 100 pages and its only purpose in the story is to tell how Thernardier "saved" the father of Marius. which is explained in just one page), add to that the obligatory rationalizations of almost every little decision or mental struggle of the characters, the story of the streets, religious orders, sewers and almost every location of Paris used in the novel.
The religious undertones bothered me a bit to be honest, because a lot of good things about the characters and their circumstances was providential or God's will but I tried to ignore it and just concentrate on the plot saying to myself that is almost expected considering the historic context when this book was written and of course the author's opinion.
Jean Valjean is a very solid character until Cosette gets married, he then decides to isolates himself for no good and/or coherent reason at all, even when V.H tries to justify this decision (with his obligatory rationalizations) it feels quite odd and very out of place, it simply kills the consistency and solidness of this wonderful character.
Like I said before I consider Les Miserables flawed because if you can ignore these faults, there is a very engaging, romantic and brilliant plot, the pacing to the ending is particularly excellent, the characters overall are very well developed, the way V.H describes the events makes you feel transported to the French restauration period, the plot was so character driven that I almost feel a void when I finished it.
Overall I enjoyed the book, but if I someone asks me, I would recommend them to read the abridged version.
 Worth the effort.May 30, 2010
I read "The Count of Monte Cristo" a couple years ago and someone recommended this book to me as "their other favorite book of all time". I had only read the abridged version of "The Count...", but I was up for the challenge of tackling the unabridged version of this one. I just finished it earlier this afternoon and have spent months with it. This book definitely has its ups and downs. The story will have you on the edge of your seat and then Hugo will go off on a tangent that could take several chapters to complete. It started to become frustrating, but the story and the characters make it worth it. There is tons of French history and commentary on different events, but when you get into the story and it slowly begins to unfold you won't mind that it took so long to get there.
I gave the book 4 stars because of all of the unnecessary chapters that added to the length of the book, but not to the story. The book is still a classic and it is going to be difficult to find another book that is as captivating now that I have finished it. Read it. You will enjoy the ride.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
The Masterpiece of the MasterMay 01, 2010
If you have any concern about the human condition, if you wish to meet characters that will live in you forever, if you relish a tale that twists, turns, surprises and soars from start to finish, if you wish to be a better person, than I entreat you, you must read Les Miserables.
Yes, it's almost 1500 pages; sure, it replete with references to a 19th century French lexicon; and, no doubt, there are several long historical digressions, but rather than detriments or handicaps, these qualities catapult Les Miserables from simply a classic to one of the most enduring, compelling, and captivating tales of all time. 1500 pages, you'll be yearning for more; the uniquely expressive French lexicon, you'll make it your own; the historical digressions, you'll wonder why your college textbooks couldn't make history so clear.
Hugo creates men of character, of principle, and unleashes them into the torrents of unforgiving 19th century world. The forsaken mother who, against frightful circumstance, knows nothing but the welfare of her child; the castoff gamin whose courage and goodness would make a God jealous; the incorruptible gendarme relentlessly, unquestioningly, and tragically pursuing the letter of the law; the ingenious, scheming, and wholly evil innkeeper forever haunting the world for a few sou more; the young man whose eyes open to the most noble ideals of liberty and of love; and of course, one man, a giant of a man, in both strength of flesh and of conscience, whose very existence is rescued by a brief encounter with a man of unrequited goodness, who henceforth lives unerringly to his promise. Fantine, Gavroche, Javert, Thenardier, Marius, Cosette, Jean Valjean. These names are literary legends and names that will become apart of you.
The storyline jumps from epoch to epoch, from character to character, from fiction to fact, and yet, amazingly, this incredibly complex and intricate work is woven together better than the Louvre's finest tapestry. Nothing is out of place or unnecessary. Early chapters set the stage, retreat from memory, and then explode like a geyser leaving one gasping for air.
And through it all, you'll cheer for one man; a man of integrity, of kindness, of courage, of righteousness, and you'll hold him, his deeds, and his benevolence, as the standard for your own life. You too will not forget, you'll never forget, his promise to live life to as an honest man.
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