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Editorial Review Product Description
Les Misérables (translated variously from French as The Miserable Ones, The Wretched, The Poor Ones, The Wretched Poor, The Victims) (1862) is a novel by French author Victor Hugo, and among the best-known novels of the 19th century. It follows the lives and interactions of several French characters over a twenty year period in the early 19th century that starts in the year of Napoleon's final defeat. Principally focusing on the struggles of the protagonist—ex-convict Jean Valjean—who seeks to redeem himself, the novel also examines the impact of Valjean's actions for the sake of social commentary. It examines the nature of good, evil, and the law, in a sweeping story that expounds upon the history of France, architecture of Paris, politics, moral philosophy, law, justice, religion, and the types and nature of romantic and familial love. Les Misérables is known to many through its numerous stage and screen adaptations, of which the most famous is the stage musical of the same name, sometimes abbreviated "Les Mis" or "Les Miz" ... Read more Customer Reviews (14) 
Kindle version not Fahnestack and MacAfee's translations
I borrowed the paperback version from a friend and greatly enjoyed the translation by Lee Fahnestack and Normal MacAfee, based on the classic C. E. Wilbour translation. At project Gutenberg, I've downloaded the free versions which seemed to be Wilbour's translation, but still liked the Fahnestack and MacAfee translation more. I was delighted to find that there is a Kindle version of this book, but was dismayed to find that an additional dollar still did not give me the translation I required. It was exactly the same as the one on project Gutenberg. Thus, I give 5 stars for the book, but 3 stars for Amazon's misleading Kindle link to this particular version of the book.
abridged version cuts out Hugo's Waterloo chapters
Despite being 900 pages long, this version of Les Miserables cuts out Hugo's magnificient chapters describing the Battle of Waterloo.
The description of this "edition" should state this openly.
Edited with a chainsaw.
Extremely disappointed with the abridging of this book.For example, almost 19 chapters are omitted regarding Waterloo.Not only is Hugo's telling of the battle moving, the artistic strokes of the pen, descriptions and insight are what classic novels and literature are all about. I suppose under Porter's cuttings, the Louve would only feature the Mona Lisa and sparsely anything else.
Readers of this edition are robbed of fantastic writing and to try and claim you have read Les Miserables through this edition is like claiming to be a doctor by having a subscription to the journal of medicine. '
This book was a WASTE of my money and full and true edition faithful to Hugo's vision needed to be purchased
Finely Crafted Tale
I had no idea what this book would be about, all I knew that there was a Broadway musical based on the book. Well I was quite pleased as it was an intriguing read. I love books that are long because you really come to know the characters. Jean Valjean is a great role model for life, I believe the author made him a little bigger than life but that's OK. Diction is always a challenge with books this old, but it is a great example of a master writer weaving a spell binding story. Parts I don't like, I might have a French last name but am very ignorant of the French language and culture. I was tired of trying to pronounce French words in my head. I was also was surprised by how the author handled Javert in the end of the story.
Prisoner 24601
Les Miserables, originally pulped in 1862, has inspired dozens of films, one of the most successful Broadway plays of all time, plays, radio dramas, and even video games, but can it still inspire your heart when read today?
I picked up this Barnes and Noble edition at one of their sales, never before reading this book, and wanting to get some classics into my reading queue.
Les Miserables is a blast, the characters are bigger than life, and Jean Valjean is a symbolic representation of redemption, of leading an upright life though the world drags you down at every turn.
This is an abridged version, and even so, parts of it aren't an easy read. Hugo mixes in philosophy, religion, politics, and even life lessons into his narrative, and at times this was great and other times it was difficult for me to trudge through. However, the book has a great story at the heart of it.
This book is vast in what it covers: honor, war, nobility, neglect, poverty, thievery, inter-family conflict, love, and fait
My favorite line: "Love each other foolishly, for the foolishness of man is the wisdom of God."
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