Les Miserables (Abridged) (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)

By Victor Hugo

Book Overview

&&LDIV&&R&&LDIV&&R&&LI&&RLes Miserables&&L/I&&R, by &&LB&&RVictor Hugo&&L/B&&R, is part of the &&LI&&RBarnes & Noble Classics&&L/I&&R&&LI&&R &&L/I&&Rseries, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of &&LI&&RBarnes & Noble Classics&&L/I&&R: &&LDIV&&RNew introductions commissioned from todays top writers and scholars Biographies of the authors Chronologies of contemporary historical, biographical, and cultural events Footnotes and endnotes Selective discussions of imitations, parodies, poems, books, plays, paintings, operas, statuary, and films inspired by the work Comments by other famous authors Study questions to challenge the readers viewpoints and expectations Bibliographies for further reading Indices & Glossaries, when appropriateAll editions are beautifully designed and are printed to superior specifications; some include illustrations of historical interest. &&LI&&RBarnes & Noble Classics &&L/I&&Rpulls together a constellation of influences--biographical, historical, and literary--to enrich each readers understanding of these enduring works.&&L/DIV&&R&&L/DIV&&R&&L/DIV&&R&&LDIV&&R &&L/DIV&&R&&LDIV&&ROne of the most widely read novels of all time, &&LI&&RLes Mis?rables &&L/I&&Rwas the crowning literary achievement of &&LB&&RVictor Hugo&&L/B&&R's stunning career. Though he was considered the greatest French writer of his day, Hugo was forced to flee the country because of his opposition to Napoleon III. While in exile he completed&&LI&&R Les Mis?rables&&L/I&&R, an enormous melodrama set against the background of political upheaval in France following the rule of Napoleon I. &&LP&&RThis newly abridged edition of &&LI&&RLes Mis?rables&&L/I&&R tells the story of the peasant Jean Valjean--unjustly imprisoned, baffled by destiny, and hounded by his nemesis, the magnificently realized, ambiguously malevolent police detective Javert. As Valjean struggles to redeem his past, we are thrust into the teeming underworld of Paris with all its poverty, ignorance, and suffering. Just as cruel tyranny threatens to extinguish the last vestiges of hope, rebellion sweeps over the land like wildfire, igniting a vast struggle for the democratic ideal in France. &&LP&&RA monumental classic dedicated to the oppressed, the underdog, the laborer, the rebel, the orphan, and the misunderstood, &&LI&&RLes Mis?rables&&L/I&&R is a rich, emotional novel that captures nothing less than the entirety of life in nineteenth-century France.&&L/P&&R&&LP&&R&&LB&&RLaurence M. Porter&&L/B&&R has published twelve books, including &&LI&&RVictor Hugo &&L/I&&R(1999), and a hundred articles and chapters. He was a National Endowment for the Humanties Senior Fellow in 1998. He teaches French at Michigan State University, where he won the Distinguished Faculty Award in 1995.&&L/P&&R&&L/DIV&&R

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1593080662
• ISBN13: 9781593080662
• Release Date: November 2003
• Publisher: Barnes & Noble Classics
• Length: 896 Pages
• Weight: 1.64 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.9" x 5.1" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Not the actual novel — was an abridged kids version.

I bought the hardcover in “new” condition and received an abridged kids version. Do not purchase the new version with bright blue backing. It is incorrect.

Inspiring

Arrived quickly and in good quality; one of the most lovely pieces of literature ever written. Unabridged copy.

Excellent

When I bought this book, I had already read the full version of Les Miserables- Which is AMAZING, by the way. This version cuts out the descriptions of both the covent and Waterloo which rather improved it. Those parts are still very good writing; but when I want to find out what happens next to Jean Valjean and Cosette and instead I get 100 pages telling me about this convent, well, It gets a tad frusterating. Especially since you can't tell whether it's important or not. (and believe me, it isn't.) So, those cuts were good. However, I was very disapointed at the cut of a lot of Marius's love letter to Cosette. The editors kept a few lines, but it loses the flow and beauty of the original letter. Yes, I know the letter was four pages to begin with, but I still think that it's worth reading. On the whole, this version is worth buying, as the story isn't hurt at all by the cuts. But the original version is still worth reading.

Long but worth the read

I have had the CD of the Original London Cast Musical of Les Miserable for about 10 years and have been a huge fan but nothing could prepare me for the book which although a long and hard read, is the most amazing book I have ever read. Everyone has something to learn from it and if you are looking for a reason to read it heres a reason: in the words of the great Victor Hugo himself : "As long as ignorance and misery remain on earth, books like this can never be useless."

Worth every minute, every page, every accolade it gets

Bar none, Les Mis is the BEST book I have ever read. I don't usually like very descriptive writers (i.e. Thomas Hardy), but even the in-depth writing of the French Revolution kept me glued. I carried this book with me everywhere and read every minute I could. I truly felt Valjean's emotions through Hugo's writing, and I was rooting for Marius and Cosette even though I already knew the story! The best book ever written.

A nice companion to "The story of Miss Saigon..."

At times this lovely book gets a little slow, but the more than sufficient cast photos and full libretto make up for the lacking of quantity...I only wish Eddie had written this one after "The Concert." The comments would have been limitless. Did we HEAR Lea Salonga? Genius...pure genius.