Recently
I've finished reading this great book by Victor Hugo. Some people may
call this novel the best work of the author, but I've read only two
Hugo books - this one and "The Man Who Laughs" and I
loved both of them. "Les Misérables" is more complex
and mature work than the book about Gwynplaine but both of them
obviously shows the talent of the author.
One
of the features I've noticed reading these books is the number of
times Victor starts describing some related historical or others
developments, it really helps to dive into the story and also it is
interesting to discover how people lived in those times.
"Les
Misérables" is a huge book - it is divided into several parts
each of which is divided into books and the books are divided into
chapters. I think it took me about a month of listening the
audiobook. Oh, yes, I've listened this book. I simply have no time to
read paper books - computer at work, computer at home and only during
trips to work I can listen some books. Usually it is a fiction book,
because I know a small number of technical books that you actually
can listen to.
And
back to the story. The author in this book tell us about French
people in the first half of the nineteenth century. The main
character is Jean Valjean. I think Jean was/is some sort of common
name for poor people in France. So Jean is a convict whose sentence
had completed. It's kind a long explanation and i probably try to
find shorter one, because in Russian you can simply say "бывший
каторжник" and there is a word emaicipist for
Australian convicts who are no longer serving their terms, and again
back to story.
Jean
is fourtish years old and nineteen of them he spent in prison. Not
really in prison but on galleys. And you probably think what this
person has had done to get such a long sentence, well - he had stolen
bread, a loaf of bread and several unsuccessful jailbreaks.
Most
of the people don't like convicts. Jean after his release noticed
this and started feel the same to other people. and then he met this
bishop. First thing he did, this bishop, when he arrived to town, he
traded his luxurious apartments for little house where hospital
resided, so poor ill people could have more place. Yeah, this bishop
was strange, but in a good way.
The
meeting with bishop, and his kindness and forgiveness made Jean think
a lot about his attitude and helped him change his life. So I've
described about 5 percent of the book which you absolutely should
read - it's great. I must say that I've started reading the book
after the latest film with the same name came out. Because I like to
be prepared before watching film. And during reading the book I
realized that there are several films and a bunch of musicals, so the
journey begins - I should decide for myself - who is the best Jean
Valjean and Javert.