Les Miserables

by Rolland H. Livingstone (Adapter), Victor Hugo (Creator), Albert Lewis Kanter (Editor)

Victor Hugo's novel of early 19th Century France, as told through the experiences of the ex-convict, Jean Valjean. Classics Illustrated tells this wonderful tale in colorful comic strip form, providing an excellent introduction for younger readers. Also includes theme discussions and study questions.

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Historical Fiction, France, Literature, Plays, Comics

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1947

Reviews

[Els · Rating 2 out of 5]

How that managed to be so infinitely more boring than even the section on convents in the Brick I will never know. I'm certain there are better illustrated versions out there, but this was less engaging than the unabridged original.

[Nu Jahat Jabin · Rating 5 out of 5]

বাচ্চাকালে এই বই পড়ে ২টা জিনিস জানতে পারছিলাম।
১মানব জীবন খুব একটা সুখের কিছু না
২ লেখকরা নিজেদের মন মত গল্পের চরিত্র গুলারে কষ্ট দিতে মেরে ফেলতে পছন্দ করেন।

ক্লাসিকাল আলোচনা থাকুক, ২টা বড় শিক্ষা পাইছি বইটা থেকে এইটাই যথেষ্ট।
৫তারা কারন আমি বইটাকে ভালবাসি।

[Rachel Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Les Miserables was one of those books that sat on my bookshelf for years untouched, not because I didn't want to read it, but because I was intimidated to. I had heard so much rumor about the book — or, more likely, about the musical and movie, since I doubt most of the people saying it have actually read the 1200+ page book. I even knew that author Victor Hugo himself wanted to publicize it and glorify it before its publication, hinting at its reputation as a classic masterpiece. Somehow, though, it was a book I never knew the ending to, despite it being talked about all over the Internet.

When I did get a chance to finally read it (but not the edition listed here), I was more confused than anything — not about the story but why it's so deified. The book wanders back and forth, up and down, with a sometimes disconnected and pedantic plot. At times it's incredibly interesting, with a backstory and philosophical impact that leaves you thinking about poverty and abandonment more than you did before. And the way Hugo managed to weave everyone's stories into one life in 19th century France was done very well also; I never felt that the connections between the characters were forced.

As a whole, though, the entire text is a slow read. Even the most exciting of action scenes (e.g. the Jondrette scene) left me rereading some portions when Hugo went on for pages describing the apartment in which a character lived, or the curtains in Cosette's room, or anything of the sort. The story wheedles often. Hugo also inserts far too many digressions about poverty, war, fate, history, war, French culture, etc., etc., without any of it being really connected to the plot. I felt the book would have been more effective if Hugo had perhaps published those "essays" separately, as a complement to the book so readers could focus more easily on only the story of Jean Valjean. (Speaking of which, he wasn't even introduced in the book until page 50. The first chunk was devoted to the godliness and righteousness of a bishop who doesn't even stay alive long after that.) It was as if Hugo wanted everyone to know he was smart and a good writer: he name-dropped like crazy and referenced historical events ranging from biblical times to the "future" of what was happening in the main plot of the book.

Is it a classic masterpiece, then? I'm divided. On the one hand, the historical epic within it is indeed remarkable, and I found myself hooked at numerous points in the book. The unknown fate of Jean Valjean was the reason I remained eager to keep reading, and I tried to apply Hugo's musings on life and philosophy to the sections they preceded or succeeded, especially as Jean Valjean's life was aboard that French roller coaster.

That being said, Jean Valjean's fate was totally underwhelming. The book was built completely up around him, and the last chapters rightly reflect on his whole life, but it seemed rushed and without moral itself — despite the entire rest of the book being about his redemption. Maybe I sort of fell out of love with his character over the lengthy time I knew him, but the end was a letdown.

Come to think of it, none of the characters particularly resonated with me in the end. Sure, I'm a little sad I finished the book, because I often experience some withdrawal after reading a powerful book — and powerful Les Miserables was. But the first three sections were so heartwrenching and depressing that I was able to show some sympathy for the characters. When their fortunes changed and new problems came into their lives, problems that affected everyone, young or old, rich or poor, I no longer had a special place for them reserved in my heart. In the end, I found both Cosette and Marius whiny and annoying and Jean Valjean a disappointment. It was as if Hugo wanted to create as happy an ending as possible but couldn't find a way to wrap everything up realistically.

I think perhaps I'll have to watch some movie/musical adaptations of the book and reread it in another view years and then perhaps I'll appreciate it more. But I could feel too much of Hugo himself in the novel to really enjoy it; he seemed to shout, through the near-perfect redemption of Jean Valjean, that everyone should read a moral in his story. And that's not to say there aren't many, many morals in the book, but more of my expression of annoyance that Hugo felt the need to explicitly ask us to notice one.

[Mugga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having seen the musical once and listened to the soundtrack hundreds of times it was interesting to read the novel when you go into it knowing all the characters but only having a vague memory of the story. I'd put this book in that category of special and rare books I consider "life changing" in that I cannot stop thinking about it every day multiple times a day. In my head, I keep rolling around the morals vs. ethics themes in this book so well illustrated by Jean Valjean and Javert.

The pacing of this book is also fascinating. I would call myself a slow reader and in my half hour bus ride some days I read 4 pages and some days I read 20 pages depending on which chapter I was reading. In some ways there are similarities to the Dickensian cliff hanger but it goes beyond that. Hugo will give you a 60 page history of the Battle of Waterloo just to get your pulse down (so it seems) so he can catch you off guard with a plot twist... which by the way, I should have saw coming, right? Because I knew the story already. And yet, to my delight, I still fell for it every single time.

I highly recommend this to anyone looking for something epic but not boring, plot driven but also philosophical, and historical but also incredibly relevant today (there's even a chapter on urban sanitation system's (or lack thereof) effect on water and air quality! From the 1860s!!)

[Osama Siddique · Rating 5 out of 5]

A timeless classic and one of my favorites this is a very good adaptation with excellent illustrations. The stoic and always suffering Jean Valjean punished harshly and seemingly interminably for 'crimes' far too minor to merit any. Pursued by the dutiful law enforcer Javert who understand and upholds law unflinchingly but has little notion of and feeling for justice - and when he ultimately does he finds a huge gulf between man's notion of justice and God's notion of justice. And the little orphan Cosette who helps Valjean retain his humanity and empathy through all his travails. Set in the period spanning the first part of the 19th century - a time of harsh laws, social upheavals and political turbulence in France - this is a memorable story about mercy and compassion triumphing over everything. Starting right from the famous scene of the Bishop's Candlesticks when an embittered Valjean encounters true Christian charity and kindness that changes the rest of his life.

[Larissa H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Les Miserables takes place in 19th century France, from the end of Napoleon’s rule to the start of the revolution. The story is about an ex-convict named Jean Valjean who served nineteen years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread. Because he’s an ex-convict no one will give him a place to stay except for the bishop Myriel. Valjean steals the bishop’s silver and runs away but is caught and brought back. The bishop then gives Valjean the silver and tells him to use it to become an honest man. After leaving the bishop, Valjean robs a young boy, feels awful about himself afterwards and decides to change his ways. He changes his name to Father Madeleine, becomes a business owner and a mayor of another town.
During this time there’s a woman, Fantine, with an illegitimate child. She needs to support her child but is afraid she won’t be able to find work as an unmarried mother. So she leaves her daughter, Cosette, with some innkeepers, the Thenardiers, and promises to send them money to take care of her. Fantine goes to work in Madeleine’s factory but is fired when one of the other workers learns of her child. She sells her hair, teeth, and becomes a prostitute to support her daughter, becoming extremely ill in the process. When she is unjustly arrested, Madeleine lets her go and makes sure she is taken care of in the hospital. The police chief, Javert suspected that Madeleine was really the criminal Valjean but was mistaken because they had captured the “real” Valjean and he was about to go to trial. Madeleine cannot let an innocent man pay for his crimes and he stops the trial and admits his real identity. Valjean escapes from prison and goes to get Cosette. He pays the Thenardiers for her and takes her away to Paris. Cosette is the first real love Valjean has ever known. But Javert discovers them in Paris and they go into hiding in a convent.
Meanwhile, Marius Pontmercy is a young student living in a run-down apartment building next to the Jondrette family. He was raised by his wealthy, royalist grandfather, Gillenormand, who took him away from his republican father when he was little. Marius doesn’t know much about his father, a colonel in Napoleon’s army, until his father dies and he meets one of his friends. He begins to admire his father and his beliefs. He has a falling out with his grandfather and he starts to hang out with a group of radicals. One day he sees Cosette sitting in the park with Valjean and he instantly falls in love with her. He goes to the park everyday just to see her but then they go away and he doesn’t see her for months. One day he sees them visiting his neighbors to give them money. The Jondrettes are actually the Thenardiers who recognize Cosette and Valjean and form a plan to rob them. Marius overhears this and goes to the police inspector, Javert. He interrupts the robbery and arrests the Thenardiers.
Cosette is also in love with Marius. They find each other and meet secretly for months until Valjean decides to move abroad. Marius doesn’t want to live without her so he decides to join his friends at the barricade and die. At the barricade, Javert is caught as a spy and Eponine, the Thenardiers eldest daughter, sacrifices herself to save Marius. Marius sends a boy, Gavroche to give Cosette a letter, but Valjean intercepts it and goes to the barricade to protect him. He recognizes Javert there and lets him go free. Valjean then escapes the barricade with Marius and takes him home. Javert can’t handle Valjean letting him go so he kills himself. Marius makes up with his grandfather and then he marries Cosette. Valjean confesses his true identity to Marius and Marius edges him out of Cosette’s life. Then he learns that Valjean saved him and he and Cosette go to find him right before he dies.
While I enjoyed the musical/movie version of Les Miserables, I didn’t appreciate the book as much. The majority of the characters end up miserable or dead except for Cosette and Marius, the only ones to get a happy ending. The plot is extremely complicated and easy to get lost in. The author does show many aspects of real life though. Firstly, there is the social injustice in life. Without equality between the classes and proper education, many people end up making bad decisions. Valjean isn’t educated until he goes to prison and after that he starts to make better choices. Fantine loses everything, including her daughter, because she is so naive.
It also shows that sometimes people must do what is morally right even if it goes against human laws. Valjean steals to feed his family so they won’t starve. Valjean confesses in court to save an innocent man even though it means he’ll go to jail. He also lets Javert go even though it means Javert will most likely find him later and send him to jail again. Valjean always does what is morally right, not what is legally right, even it isn’t advantageous for him.
The last thing it shows is the importance of love. Valjean changes his ways because of loving compassion from the priest and in turn goes on to love Cosette, who has never known love either. Love also redeems Eponine who sacrifices herself out of selfless love for Marius. It shows that love is really the only important thing in this world.
If you like really complicated plots, miserable characters, and a bunch of old French that google translate doesn’t understand, then you should read this book. If not, then go watch the movie because at least the music is good and it does a better job of bringing out the points of the story.

[Michelle Isenhoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a book for the faint of heart. It took me scores of hours to read it, and that was with a good deal of skimming. Mr. Hugo has the old-fashioned habit of rabbit-trailing—often for five or six chapters at a time. As soon as he left the storyline, I started clicking my Kindle with the briefest scan of a page. He does a lot of name dropping, a good deal of drifting into politics and histories (particularly French history that I’m not well-versed in), and his commentary on related subjects stretches long. For example, when Jean Valjean must hide in a convent, we get several chapters on the pros, cons, and extensive history of convents. Skip, skip, skip.

The delivery of the main storyline is scattershot, as well. Jean Valjean is our main character, a convict. We don’t meet him, however, until we complete an entire volume written about the priest who serves to change the course of Jean’s life. As a changed man, albeit one hiding from the law under an assumed name, Jean takes up an honest trade, becomes quite wealthy, does good to the poor, and comes in contact with Fantine. Another entire volume is written about this particular woman, who represents the suffering of all women under an unjust and uncaring society. She is a discarded prostitute forced to leave her daughter under the care a cruel family and eventually dies of wretchedness. Jean learns of the woman’s misery and sets out to save the daughter. The remainder of the story revolves around his selfless acts on the daughter’s behalf, despite evil forces that seek to destroy them, and the love that springs up between them (interspersed, of course, among two more volumes about other characters that seem unrelated until they cross paths with Jean). Jean is a good man, a self-sacrificing man, a martyr, a Christ figure.

However long, sidewinding, piecemeal, and did I say long? the story may be, the meat of it has been enduring. It makes a number of social statements, foremost, that an unjust and uncaring society causes suffering. Who are “Les Miserables?” All mankind. “Misery has been the garment of the human race,” the author explains in an afterward. The state of women and children (represented by Fantine and by various Parisan street urchins), the protection or lack of protection given to them, is the indicator of a civilization. And society comes up short. Poverty, starvation, and the neglect of children... Monarchies that are oppressive and self-indulgent at the expense of the populace... There is a great deal said about the need for social reforms, such as free and compulsory education which we now take for granted. But the book also draws hope from the promise of heaven, when all will be corrected. Victor Hugo relates some very strong Christian convictions. God, he says at one point, is the main character in his book. Man is the second. Grace and forgiveness are upheld against the strict rule of law.

The storyline of Les Miserables, when you can uncover it, is very powerful. The book gives a unique look at the strengths and weaknesses of nineteen century society. It also takes a hard look at the evil and nobility of mankind. It is well worth reading, and I am very curious to see a modern adaption (movie or stage performance). But I think, for modern readers, an abridged version of the novel might be much easier to digest. I'd give this one a high school age recommendation.

[Varinder Randhawa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first review on goodreads. I came across this book when I googled for good emotional books to read. Les Miserables is the longest book I ever read. I read it in bits and pieces over a span of almost 6 months. This book was a tough read for me, partly because of the language used and mainly because the author has the tendency to go to extreme depths to introduce a character or to build up the plot. Examples of these depths are Battle of Waterloo, French Revolution, Parisian gamin, French convents. Whenever I came across such a piece while reading the book it was hard to stay motivated to read the book till the end. Some parts of book are really moving especially portrayal of Cosette as a orphaned left at the mercy of the strangers by her mother or Fantine dying longing to see her daughter Cosette for one last time. The love story of Cosette and Marius is sweetly romantic. Hide and seek between the protagonist Jean Valjean and Inspector Javert are in a way thrilling and fun to read.
The book is about selfless love and that it's very hard for you to escape your past.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

VH used so many words I have nothing to add... :) Other than a confession that about halfway through I started skimming the expository parts and it still took me 3 months to read this book! The translation I read was superb. I can see why this is a classic.

[Lora · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book with my YA son, because we became fans of Les Mis this past summer. It was fun to re-visit the story, but expect some differences between Classics Illustrated and the movie musical and televised concerts. For example, Eponine wasn't mentioned once here, and various plot points weren't as we remembered them.

The illustrations in this version are by Norman Nodel, and they haven't aged well. In fact, we thought Javert looked like a character from "Planet of the Apes."

The writing was also old-fashioned, and it wasn't always easy to understand - but that might in part be because they were trying to squeeze too much into this version (the original book was over 1,000 pages long according to Wikipedia).

This Classics Illustrated book ended with background about the book, information about inventor Peter Cooper (interesting, but not particularly relevant) and information about crime and punishment in France in the 1700s. The latter made me interested in researching the subject a bit more. I noted the following:

- The book was SET in 1815-1832. Obviously, Jean Valjean's story shows the arbitrary sentencing and the focus on retribution (rather than retribution) that was part of the background for judicial reforms that started during the French Revolution (1789-1799).

- The book was PUBLISHED in 1862. The French penal code had been revised in 1810 and 1832 and would be revised again in 1863 to eliminate the last remaining barbaric physical punishments and to reduce a number of offenses to lesser status.

All in all, we enjoyed the book, and it's nice to have a condensed version of such a long and important book.

[Greg Hovanesian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Les Miserables, by Victor Hugo, is arguably one of the most complex novels ever written. And the fact that this massive work of art has been squeezed into a comic book might turn some off. But the analysis at the end of this work is fantastic, and if anything helps the reader to understand just how intricate and complex this novel is, and lets the reader decide if they want to tackle the original text. And even with entire sections and characters missing from this edition, the simple and powerful humanism of this work still comes through.

[WriterRo · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Les Misérables" by Victor Hugo is an epic tale of love, justice, and redemption set against the backdrop of 19th-century France. The novel masterfully weaves together the lives of its characters, exploring the depths of human suffering and the power of compassion. Hugo's timeless classic is both a gripping narrative and a profound commentary on society and morality.

[tuhseen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is devastating to think how relatable and applicable this book remains today. Even in this form, the voices of the characters and the pain in them didn't fail to touch me. I will definitely read the full length book.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book to get a basic understanding of the plot of les Mis before I see the musical. I found this quick and easy to read yet very informative and, I think, a good introduction to the musical.

[Helena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is about a man, who served in jail for 19 years and finally got out. He tries to find a job to do, but people rejected him just because he was in jail. Then a suspicious police tries to hunt him down. He then falls in love with a beautiful girl and does anything to protect her.

[David Gillett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I made myself read this book when I was in high school. I got mad at it for being so f***ing long. And the chase in the sewers! It just went on and on and on and on. When are they going to get out of the f***ing sewers!

Love the musical version!

[Netta De beer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watched the movie.....and simply had to read the book .
Yes....a five star .

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is so good and the writing beautiful but his background stories are often incredibly boring

[David Presper · Rating 1 out of 5]

Book just dragged on and seemed to wander, to many story lines that never seemed to complete

[Luciana Coelho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Que livro perfeito!!!
Como foi que passei minha vida inteira sem lê-lo? Foi triste e arrebatador na mesma proporção. <3

[Oriana Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Javert is a very undervalued character.. he is my favorite

[melissa Kamy Ramirez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Estubo Bonita la historia porque truste el final me dolio mucho

[Angeline Gantalao · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was so inspiring and I would love to read this over and over again because it has a lesson on it

[Beth Dav · Rating 5 out of 5]

enjoyable illustrated summary of the book.

[Ane Alise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Would have been very confusing if i had not already seen the movie.

[game4brains · Rating 5 out of 5]

Les Misérables: the name is a diamond among literary buffs. Commonly associated with the acclaimed 1980 opera, Les Misérables is Victor Hugo’s powerful gospel of French society. The novel chronicles the tale of Jean-Valjean, a former convict who embarks on an Odyssey of absolution in the years following his release from prison. He had been imprisoned for nineteen years: five for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister’s starving children, and the additional fourteen years being the result of numerous escape attempts. During his journey, Jean-Valjean is persistently hounded by the ruthless Inspector Javert, who seeks to throw Jean-Valjean back into jail, simply because of the French belief of “once a criminal, always a criminal.” Yet despite this, Jean-Valjean shines light onto a number of bystanders who were surrounded by the darkness of societal cruelty and the fervor of the June Rebellion, a reflection of Hugo’s own past as a liberalist advocate.
Hugo’s masterpiece is rife with social commentary and harsh criticism of the French way. He perfectly contrasts both ends of French life when describing the life of the illegitimate mother Fantine. She is first introduced as “A brilliant face, delicate profile...a gaiety tempered with reverie, sculptured and exquisite” (Hugo 110), offering enough of an allusion to her life of luxury at the start of Book III. However, following the birth of her daughter, she is reintroduced in the succeeding Book as “poor and sad; she [has] the appearance of a working woman...she [is] pale, and look[s] very weary, and somewhat sick” (Hugo 128), greatly contrasting her golden age and revealing how hard she fell because of her single motherhood. By the end of her life, “she has endured all, borne all, experienced all, suffered all, lost all, wept for all” (Hugo 163), giving one final insight into the ultimate outcome of her poverty. By placing the law itself as the main antagonist--influencing the many hardships endured by several of the novel’s characters--Hugo not only able to throw light to the cruelty of the French justice system, but also manages to criticise French society in general.
Despite such achievements, the novel is significantly impaired by its childish over-reliance on transgressions to tell the story. Such transgressions range from mildly plot-relevant tangents about other characters’ lives to flat-out rants about a man’s living arrangements; many of these segments are hardly necessary and could easily be trimmed down to a paragraph or even a sentence. Though such criticism seems like petty micromanagement, it is within proper reason: not only do these transgressions make it difficult for people trying to read a good story, but several of them also diverge from the main plot and make the novel unnecessarily long.
Underneath the novel’s surface of transgressions and ramblings is a glistening core of brilliance. The way the story intertwines the lives of many different characters into one makes the tale seem far more realistic than most other novels, which focus solely on the life & times of a single character. Such a technique showcases how many people are involved in and impacted by a single man’s life, an aspect not usually considered by the average storywriter. Among the many strings of people that form this great web is the narrator, strongly implied to be Victor Hugo himself. As the narrator supervises and broods over the series of events surrounding Jean-Valjean’s journey of absolution, the reader can accurately bear witness to the tale alongside him.
Les Misérables is an astounding social gospel that accurately criticizes French society. As a web of intertwining lives and an Odyssey of one man’s absolution, it is an absolute must-read for everyone: a true diamond among literature.

[Katy Terberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that is not for those who aren't willing to commit to a heady task. The unabridged version is not called "the Brick" without reason. However, if you're willing to set aside time to embark on this literary journey, I highly recommend this read.

Jean Valjean is a bread thief who is finally released from prison after 19 years, most of his time amounting from multiple escape attempts. Inspector Javert is a very ambitious and very by-the-book policeman who reminds Valjean that, while he might be out of jail, his papers indicate that he is an ex-convict, and as such, he can never truly be a free man. When Valjean finds that this is true, all hope seems lost until a kind bishop takes pity on Valjean and gives him food and shelter. Valjean attempts to steal from the Bishop of Digne but, rather than turning Valjean in, the Bishop uses this moment to teach Valjean a lesson, and from that point on Valjean turns his life around.

The latter half of the story is set against the backdrop of the June rebellion led by young revolutionaries whose goal was not individual victories, but rather to raise awareness of the corruption of the privledged few governing the many. These students, led by Enjolras, provided an example of the rapidly changing political times.

Hugo was an idealist. He was optimistic that the 20th century would be a great one, and that poverty, hunger, greed, and corruption would be gone. As we know, these problems were far from over, but this book's messages of hope indicate the underlying hope amongst the multitude of fears.

Original Broadway musical Javert, Terrence Mann, describes Les Mis as a story about "the triumph of the human spirit" and I couldn't agree more. It's a beautiful, hopeful tale of redemption, strength, kindness, love, and seeing people from more than one angle. The only true villain is circumstance. The heroes are those who are willing to fight for love, fight for revolution, fight for justice, fight for friendship, and ultimately fight for something bigger than themselves.

Les Miserables is a timeless piece of literature and one of my absolute favorites. Every time I read it I feel a sense of elation. Though, as the title would indicate, the story can be incredibly depressing, with almost every title character dying, it is also incredibly empowering. I not only recommend this book, but I implore you to read it. Getting through a 1500+ page book may be daunting, but the results are more than worth the effort.

[squiddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 1,304-page book (1,416 pages including the notes).... What I loved about this book is how each character and situation is introduced by a detailed account of the political climate of the time. It’s tempting to want to skip these long chapters, but don’t. Hugo does get to the point (If you’ve read The Hunchback of Notre Dame, you'll understand), and what I didn’t like is that it ended and there is no les misérables, the series. I ugly cried TT

[Camille McCarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The writing was very clever and the story was engaging, even if the characters were a bit two-dimensional. Even though the story was serious it was also very humorous at times, I'm not sure if the author meant it to be like that but it made me laugh. The legal system seemed much too harsh in the early 1800's and it seems that the main point of the book was to judge people not by their past but by their present actions if they have atoned for their misdeeds of the past. At the same point Jean Valjean really judges Marius just because he admires Cosette and that seemed just as bad as everyone treating him as if he is the devil just because he stole a loaf of bread twenty years before. Also I can't tell if he only went to the barricade because he thought Marius was already dead or if he really went to save Marius. Marius is afraid of Jean Valjean because he thinks he killed Javert, which is understandable since Jean Valjean never told him otherwise and wouldn't admit to having saved Marius's life. Valjean is a bit too "noble" in my opinion - what is the point of telling Javert who he is when Javert isn't even suspicious anymore and everyone thinks the criminal Jean Valjean is dead? He goes through all this trouble to hide his identity for years and then tells who he is to the one person who might care as soon as he sees him. It's one thing when someone else is going to get in trouble for things he has done, but it's another when no one is hurt by his identity not being known.

[Sam Griffiths · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily one of the best books ever written. Definitely a must read.

You know that moment when everything in a really complicated plot suddenly makes sense? Or when something super crazy and unexplained happens in a story that changes everything so much that you have to stop reading and just stop and process it? This book has more than one of those (and I've never seen more than one in a story before). It's incredible. It's an amazing blend between fantastic story telling and profound thoughts on life.

For those who haven't read it, my recommendation is to try to read it during a period where you have absurd amounts of free time. Some good times could be in between semesters, while unemployed, or while traveling extensively. It's just such a large book. A lot of people say to read the abridged version, and although I understand where they're coming from, they're totally wrong. Part of what makes this book so good is just how comprehensive it is. It takes intensely powerful lessons from almost every stage of life and gives you all the depth and context you need to make them yours.