Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Search - Les Miserables: A New Unabridged Translation

Les Miserables: A New Unabridged Translation
Les Miserables A New Unabridged Translation
Author: Victor Hugo, Lee Fahnestock (Translator), Norman MacAfee (Translator)
Hugo's wrenching story centers on Jean Valjean, an honest peasant sentenced to five years' hard labor for stealing a loaf of bread, then 19 more for trying to escape. Turned into a hardened and ruthless criminal by his experiences, he reforms, becomes mayor of a French town, but is tracked down by the pitiless detective Javert for anothe...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780451525260
ISBN-10: 0451525264
Publication Date: 3/3/1987
Pages: 1,463
Rating:
  • Currently 4.1/5 Stars.
 104

4.1 stars, based on 104 ratings
Publisher: Signet Book
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed Les Miserables: A New Unabridged Translation on + 4 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Timeless story of good and bad. Rich characters that will stay with you long after you've read this book. The musical was a faithful interpretation, but nothing beats reading in its entirety.
reviewed Les Miserables: A New Unabridged Translation on + 9 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
One of my favorite books of all time! You have to read it unabridged, though it's not an easy task; I love a lot of the parts that are taken out when it's shortened. What an amazing work.
jrw avatar reviewed Les Miserables: A New Unabridged Translation on + 33 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
When they say unabridged, they mean it! The main story is entertaining, and I enjoyed it. That being said, a considerable amount of time is spent on background and history of tangential items. While this adds to the depth, it slows down the pace and is what makes this a nearly 1500 page novel. One of the few flaws I had with the book was a very common one - the city/world/universe is made up of five people. That thief who just appeared and can decide the fate of a main character? Why it is the same person who ..., etc. The other is that this book was seemingly written before readers were exposed to now common twists; mysterious revelations are not unexpected. But overall, I did like the book and felt the author tried very hard to leave no loose end.
reviewed Les Miserables: A New Unabridged Translation on + 12 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Les Miserables is a well written, engaging tale of redemption, loss, and hope in the midst of darkness. It may be a bit long for the average reader, however.
Read All 9 Book Reviews of "Les Miserables A New Unabridged Translation"

Please Log in to Rate these Book Reviews

reviewed Les Miserables: A New Unabridged Translation on
I am still reading it, as it's a LONG book and I don't have a TON of extra time on my hands. But I am about 1/5 of the way through it and I am loving it! Victor Hugo describes things in such detail (sometimes, too much.....I'm at Waterloo right now) but he pulls you in to the characters and you really get a feel for who they are and what they represent.


Genres: