OBWL 3E Level 1: Les Miserables

by Jennifer Bassett

France, 1815. Jean Valjean leaves prison after nineteen years. These are dangerous and troubled times, and life is hard. Valjean must begin a new life, but how can he escape his past, and his enemy, Inspector Javert?

Genres: Fiction, Classics

56 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1862

About the author

Jennifer Bassett has been a teacher, teacher trainer, editor, and materials writer, and has taught in England, Greece, Spain, and Portugal. She is the Series Editor of the Oxford Bookworms Library, and has written more than twenty original and retold stories for the series, including The Phantom of the Opera, One-Way Ticket, The President's Murderer, and William Shakespeare. Two of her adaptations, Rabbit-Proof Fence and Love Among the Haystacks, have won Language Learner Literature Awards, and three of her other titles have been finalists for the Awards. She has created a new sub-series called Bookworms World Stories, which are collections of short stories written in English from around the world. She has also written original stories for the English Today Readers and Storylines series. Jennifer is series co-adviser, with H.G. Widdowson, of the Oxford Bookworms Collection, volumes of unadapted short stories for advanced learners.

Reviews

[Erika Ando · Rating 4 out of 5]

1, Les Miserables; OXFORD; level 1
2, 5/18 10 minutes
5/19 47 minutes
5/22 29 minutes total 86 minutes
3, poor thief prison silver inspector daughter father
4, Do you have any brothers or sisters?
No, I don't. I have no brothers and sisters, but I wanted brothers or sisters. Especially, I wanted older brothers or sisters.
5, I was very impressed after I read this book. Jean Valjean is very good man. I want to watch this movie.

[Halima · Rating 2 out of 5]

I some how have a special feeling for the movie 😬 I think it's a little bit better then the original novel .... just a little xD.
Although it's a very sad story but I love it so much ❤️

[Takumi Tanaka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Les Miserables is written by Victor Hugo who is a French novelist. This novel depicts Jean Valjean’s life. He is endured poorly and he stole only one piece of bread. Because of this, he served a prison term for nineteen years. He was treated coldly at destinations. A bishop welcomed Valjean warmly. Valjean mended his ways, and he has decided that he’s living as honest man.

I think this story is miserable, but impressive. I was touched by the gentleness of the bishop for Valjean. Valjean stole bishop’s silver tableware. But the bishop said that “I gave him tableware.” Because of this, Valjean escaped from arrest. I think this bishop’s behavior changed Valjean’s way of thinking. Valjean estimated a good person for people and he became the mayor in a city. I think that from this thing, we can read the change in his way of thinking. Fantine works for a factory. She has a little daughter. Her name is Cosette. Valjean is not Fantine’s husband so he is not Cosette’s father. But Valjean poured out his affection on Cosette as parent and child. I was surprised and moved. I think this is the true love. At first, Valjean is a prisoner. But he became a saint. I think this change is the biggest highlight of this story.

I recommend this book because this story depicts the true love which persists eternal. All people will like this book. Especially, I want the person who forgets affection to read this book. If the person reads this book, he or she will remember affection.

[Nada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. I wasn't sure I would like this book at first, but now I know I want to read the original text.

[Mia Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Les Miserables, it’s hands down my favourite musical and I know the story and all songs by heart. This retelling describes the tragedy but fails to capture the heart ache, bravery, love, kindness and despair to its full potential. It does however make the story more accessible as Victor Hugo’s original work is a beast. And it’s more suitable for a younger audience. This is super short but honestly I would recommend if you are unfamiliar go see the stage production or even the movie for the full experience.

[هُـدىٰ · Rating 3 out of 5]

It gives an overall idea about the long novel.

[Shaima · Rating 5 out of 5]

قرأتها على فترات متقطعة في يوم واحد وفي المجمل ممكن ان تكون ساعتين
.
احببت القصة ولامست قلبي وحزنت جدًا عندما قُتِل Gavroche 😣💔
التقاء جان ڤالجان بـ أسقف مدينة ديني هي بداية كل القصص 💞
سوف اقتني الرواية الكاملة قريبًا ان شاءالله 💜💜

[J.A. Coffey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking, beautiful. A classic.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it in a blink of an eye, because it is so short, but I wanted to read it for ages, since I wanted to read the book first and watch the movie later. And I guess I finally did it. :P

A sad story with twists, that made me smile and sad, both at the same time. Love the ending though.

[Wilde Sky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A man tries to put his criminal past / prison time behind him.

I thought this was a great story, with plenty of twists and turns, if a little lacking in depth (this was an abridged version).

Reading time around forty-five minutes.

[Refal Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super

[Hm · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favor it’s soooooooooooo gooooooooooood

[Cony · Rating 5 out of 5]

"He did not know love, he did not understand love, but in that moment, suddenly, he felt a father's love for this small child"

[جون المقدوني · Rating 4 out of 5]

كتاب ورقي : استعارة من يوسف صالح جناح

[Amēlie Boucher · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pour l'école quoi

[Mai · Rating 3 out of 5]

7302 words

[Masaya Miyake · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book name is “Les Misérables”. The title means poor people in French.

It was written by Victor-Marie Hugo. ( Retold by Jennifer Bassett)

Its genre is a drama. Jean Valjean leaves prison in 1815.

After then, he meets many people. Myriel, Fantine, and Cosett.

And he gets away many menaces.

I was attracted by two things.

First, the characters are very fascinating. They are almost poor. But, they are strong and clever and compassionate.

Of course, the villain appeared. They are impudent and clever and brutality.

The characters have their beliefs and act in their beliefs.

But, this book is omitted some part from the original. So, some characters do not appear in this book. I think it is regrettable.

Second, I was attracted by the expansion.

It is not only interesting but also continuity. The story has a lot of clues. You can enjoy looking for those and be amazed their effect.

The latter expansion is fast. It is hard to understand latter story. If you remember most clues, you can feel deep emotion. You must remember “silver candlestands”.

People who feel happy or unhappy. And people who have one’s policy.

I hope that people read this book. Please try it.

Your own values will be affected.

[Haruna Saka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book:)
OXFORD, bookworms
"Les Miserables"
Stage1,Retold by Jennifer Bassett.

Time:)
5/23=20min, 5/24=13min, 5/26=35min
In totally, 68min.

7 summary:)
prison-escape-Fantine-(the)child-Jevert-love-rebellion

DiscussionQ&A:)
Q. Which current movies did you want to watch at a movie theater?? Either Japanese or others is ok!
A. As you can guess, I wanted to go to watch "Les Miserables." at a theather with a very big screen!!! Also, now I want to go to watch "The Great Gatsby." right now!:)

My thoughts:)
To be honest, it's impossible to express this story with only 7words! The content is very deep even if this book is a short version!
I love it. I want to watch this movie as soon as possible! I didn't have a chance to go watching it before I went to Australia....
I'm waiting very much:)

[Wakako Natsume · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. Les Miserable/ OXFORD/ STAGE 1

2. Les Miserable
6/13 20 min.
6/14 15 min
6/17 13 min.
Anne of green gables
6/19 33 min.
Total: 81min.

3. child, poor, prisonr, policemen, dead, love, soldiers

4. Can you love a child like Jean Valjean even he or she is not your child? -- I'm not sure, but I think I love him or her gradually. This is the reason why I would have taken care of the child for a long time.

5. It was a good story. I knew why this story has been loved all over the world for a long time. I think If Jean Valjean hadn't met the bishop, he would haven't spent his life. If he hadn't met Fantine, he couldn't have met Cosset. If he hadn't met Cosset, he wouldn't have known father's feeling. I think encounter is really important.

[Shouta Takao · Rating 5 out of 5]

70 minutes
seven words: man, help, daughter, escape, love, death, happy

Q1:If you were the police, can you overlook a criminal who is trying to help someone's life?
A1:I will arrest and help the life.

Q2:Do you have an experience that change your personality?
A2:Yes. When I was a junior high school student, my brother changed me.

I could enjoy to reed this book. The story is very interesting.

[Yorika Oka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oxford readers stage1
Time5/15=95minutes
Seven word summary=prisoner,inspector,love,misery,barricade,free,candlesticks
Do you think the characters are miserable?
Yes. But they try hard at life. I like them.
I like this book the best I have ever read.
I also watched this movie. I'm very impressed.

[Haruka Okumura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oxford readers stage1
60 min
7word summary: thief-bishop-woman-daughter-poor-police-France
Do you think you can be nice to people who made some crimes in their past?
-I don't know, but I want to be nice to everyone even who made some mistakes in their past.

This story is my and my mother's favorite story.(and my host mother's too!)

[Chie Kawai · Rating 5 out of 5]

OXFORD 120min

Do you want to change myself?
yes. I want to change my character. I want to become a better person.

I like this story very much. I'm very impressed. Especially, the scene that jean valjean is getting better person.

Love,prison,war,death,beautiful,children,good

[Gabriela]

im like the book is a different a movie...

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic.

[dee (kira) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gavroche death will never not be the saddest event throughout the whole story.. Rip my baby :(