Les Miserables

By: Victor Hugo

Narrated by: Frederick Davidson

Length: 57 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

Set in the Parisian underworld and plotted like a detective story, Les Miserables follows Jean Valjean, originally an honest peasant, who has been imprisoned for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister's starving family. A hardened criminal upon his release, he eventually reforms, becoming a successful industrialist and town mayor. Despite this, he is haunted by an impulsive former crime and is pursued relentlessly by the police inspector Javert.

Hugo describes early 19th-century France with a sweeping power that gives his novel epic stature. Among the most famous chapters are the account of the battle of Waterloo and Valjean's flight through the Paris sewers.

(P)1996 Blackstone Audiobooks

Grateful for audiobooks

I never would’ve read let Misérables if I had not listen to it on audio books. Great book for a long trip. After seeing the play, I was very intrigued to read the book I’m glad I could listen to it. I don’t think I would’ve ever made it through reading it even though I like long books

WORTH IT!!!

Where does Les Miserables rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

1 or 2; Don Quixote being the only other that compares.

What did you like best about this story?

The redemption of JVJ.

Have you listened to any of Frederick Davidson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Hell no! It's 57 hrs. long plus I had to pause it throughout just so I could ponder about what was said.Way too dense for one sitting. What kind of question is that?

Any additional comments?

Careful because it will ruin the story in the play/movie. There is so much pertinent information omitted that it might make you sick how much the remove.

Awesome

If you could sum up Les Miserables in three words, what would they be?

Redemption, heroism, altruism.

What did you like best about this story?

The way Victor Hugo built up his characters and background events. The theme of redemption and altruism. The telling of the historical events.

Which character – as performed by Frederick Davidson – was your favorite?

Jean Valjean of course.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The treatment of Cosette as a child filled me with horror and the dying Valjean made me cry. The judicial and penal system of the time appalled me.

Any additional comments?

Frederick Davidson did an awesome job reading this book. By giving each character their own voice he brought them alive and allowed the listener to respond emotionally to the person or events. As an English speaking listener the names of some of the characters were hard to understand and remember. Giving them their own voice made it easier to recognize the characters. I was especially impressed with the reading of the passing of Valjean. The emotional response stayed with me long after the story ended.
Thank you Mr. Davidson.

Excelente lectura

Estoy muy agradecido de que el narrador haya sabido pronunciar las palabras en francés. Qué gran lectura de una gran historia.

Great for long trips

Loved the story. Be aware Hugo can go off on long explanations that tell another about Paris in the early 1800s.

...a long and wonderful listen...

...JeanValJean is a forever hero... Frederick Davidson is among the greatest of narrators...Thanks 👍

Classic story, very well read!

This is long, but so worth it for the story as well as the history and philosophical and political diatribes which give such insight into the time and place. The reader was fantastic in trying to provide different voices and inflections and his French is fabulous.

Superb narration

Frederick Davidson does an excellent job at narrating this story with the different voices A true tour de force!

Worth the time

I adore the narrator, David Case/Frederick Davidson (I only recently learned they are the same person). I can't believe anyone would fault him for his singing voice. I doubt someone with a better singing voice could hold one's attention and use inflection better than he does. His ability to switch between characters and maintain their personas is unsurpassed in my opinion.
Several years ago, I listened to the unabridged version that I checked out from my public library. Wishing to revisit it, I recently purchased it on CD, not realizing it was the abridged version. I am now downloading this version because there is a lot that has been skipped. Yes, it is long but I get a lot of laundry folded, dishes washed and other mindless tasks completed while immersed in this book and the characters!

Tour de Force Reading of a Masterpiece

This is a superb reading in every respect. Davidson brings to full life the myriad voices and social textures of the novel with aplomb and creativity. Engaging and entertaining throughout.