As for the story itself, les miserables is simply one of the greatest stories ever told. The book is nearly 3,000 pages long and considered an epic. Les miserables quotes showing 151180 of 2,048 man is not a circle with a single center. It is set in france and spans the course of 17 years, starting in 1815 and ending in 1832. What are the amazing facts of les miserables by victor hugo. Spoilers 16 fantines assault by a rejected customer is based on an actual incident from victor hugo s life that resulted in fantines creation. Sparknotes is here for you weve got everything you need to ace or teach. May 28, 2019 les miserables, one of the most popular musicals of all time, is based on a novel of the same name by french author victor hugo. Les miserables study guide contains a biography of victor hugo, literature essays, a complete etext, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.
Jean valjean, a man who has spent 19 tortuous years in prison, in released on parole by the acclaimed officer, javert. He is seventyfive years old and lives only with a sister baptistine, ten years younger than he, and an old servant, madame magloire, the same age as his sister. He was born on 26th february 1802, in besancon, france. When valjean breaks parole, javert relentlessly searches for the escapee. Les miserables, five volumes, complete by victor hugo. The book itself is about 150 pages in something like 15 chapters. The strange power of les mis, the book the new republic. The author wants the readers to identify the narrator on their own.
Jul 25, 2014 ten facts you didnt know about les miserables victor hugos epic has captured and wrung the hearts of millions since its publication in the 1860s. Dec 18, 2012 victor hugos les miserables debuted 150 years ago in 1862 and now has become the literal definition of the big book. Mar 02, 20 les miserables is a book about misery, and not just about povertymisery, which, even in french, denotes something larger and vaguer and more emotional than a mere economic condition. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on litcharts. Sep 16, 2019 victor hugo is a celebrated french romantic author best known for his poetry and his novels, including the hunchback of notre dame and les miserables. Teach your students to analyze literature like litcharts does. In the englishspeaking world, the novel is usually referred to by its original french title. It was an instant popular success and was quickly translated into several languages. The story of jean valjean, a poor french boy who is arrested at the age of 19 for stealing a loaf of bread for his family, and who is sentenced to the quarries for seven years. Victor hugos les miserables debuted 150 years ago in 1862 and now has become the literal definition of the big book.
Les miserables trivia meet your next favorite book. The time period during which the story takes place was a political roller coaster for france, and hugo is a master at exploring the implications for every level of society. The most common les miserables book material is metal. One day, an ex convict wanders into the bishops village and cant find any food or lodging because everyone turns him away. Only the saintly bishop, monseigneur myriel, welcomes him.
Set in the parisian underworld and plotted like a detective story, the work follows the fortunes of the convict jean valjean, a victim of society who has been imprisoned for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread. Les miserables tells the fictional story of jean valjean, a man who has unjustly been condemned to nearly two decades of prison for stealing a. The books opens by describing the life of a really upstanding dude named bishop myriel. History les miserables welcome to the official website. Les miserables, novel by victor hugo, published in french in 1862. The book of the musical was written by claudemichel schonberg and alain boublil.
My eight year old daughter wanted to read les miserables after listening to the musical for several years. The best study guide to les miserables on the planet, from the creators of sparknotes. Published in 1862, the book referenced what were already historic events. Another important character in the novel is javert.
The lyrics were written by alain boublil and jeanmarc natel. Seen by over 70 million people around the world, the production has become a mustsee for any theatregoer. Click the link for more information on the show, to buy tickets and much much more. Apr 02, 2020 victor hugo, poet, novelist, and dramatist who was the most important of the french romantic writers. If youve watched the movie, or read the book les miserables, then why not check out the top interesting facts about author, victor hugo. Sep 16, 2016 les miserables is a truly emotional book that inspires you to look within yourself. Jul 06, 2018 les miserables by victor hugo goodreads summary. Jun 20, 2019 20 facts you didnt know about les miserables in the west end flying the french flag in the west end for over 30 years, les miserables has become part of londons theatre fabric. Dec 06, 2012 14 things you never knew about les miserables. Les miserables 101 amazing facts you didnt know rakuten kobo.
The title is french, translating in english to the wretched ones. She would read along with the songs in the cd insert and had a pretty good grasp of the story line before beginning to read the book. Jean valjean, after spending nineteen years in jail and in the galleys for stealing a loaf of bread and for several attempts to escape, is finally released, but his past keeps haunting him. Ten facts you didnt know about les miserables victoria van. I dont really need an excuse to think hourly about the les miserables movie and how ridiculously excited i am. Top 20 book facts all the facts about books you need to know. At digne, he is repeatedly refused shelter for the night. When valjean arrives at the town of digne, no one is willing to give him shelter because he is an exconvict.
Instant downloads of all 1291 litchart pdfs including les miserables. Herbert kretzmer adapted the lyrics and text to english. Introducing one of the most famous characters in literature, jean valjeanthe noble peasant imprisoned for stealing a loaf of breadles miserables ranks among the greatest novels of all time. If youve enjoyed the book, then this will be a must read delight for you. Les miserables or, as it is often shortened, les mis is a novel by victor hugo, published in 1862.
Who was seated in such a way as to gain fantines confidence. The convict jean valjean is released from a french prison after serving nineteen years for stealing a loaf of bread and for subsequent attempts to escape from prison. Did you scroll all this way to get facts about les miserables book. So long as there shall exist, by virtue of law and custom, decrees of damnation pronounced by society, artificially creating hells amid the civilization of earth, and adding the element of human fate to.