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

Not to be missed, all 57 hours

I understand why this book is so important to the lexicon of great novels. I thought the narration was great and disagree with many reviews that did not like Frederick's voice. I do wonder how I would have felt if the narrator had a French accent. This is a book not to be missed, I find the more classics I listen to the more I understand human nature and the world around me. I also become more liberal and less dogmatic.

Give yourself a treat and read or listen to this book.

Amazing story!!

Would you listen to Les Miserables again? Why?

Not with this narrator. I could hardly understand him and for some reason disliked his tone.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

Narrator's tone was always the same whether character was sad, happy or angry.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Blow your mind away, superb, amazing story!!

Any additional comments?

ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T LIKE THE NARRATOR, THIS IS A STORY FOR THE AGES. YOU WILL LAUGH, CRY, FEEL THEIR PAIN AND THEIR HAPPINESS. LISTEN TO THIS BEFORE YOU SEE THE MOVIE AND IT WILL MAKE THE EXPERIENCE UNFORGETTABLE AND INCOMPARABLE.

Excellent!!

I can't believe I waited this long to enjoy this classic! It is truly a masterpiece! Hearing it makes it truly come alive. I can't wait to hear it again.

To love another

There is a reason when a book written over 150 years ago is still loved today. I never tire of reading or listening to this book.

Unfortunate narration ruins a classic

Would you try another book from Victor Hugo and/or Frederick Davidson?

I would listen to another book by Victor Hugo but not by Fredierick Davidson

Would you be willing to try another book from Victor Hugo? Why or why not?

I'd try another book by Victor Hugo because he is a classic writer - you don't stay popular for hundreds of years for no reason and his books were written to be read out loud.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Frederick Davidson?

I would cast a narrator who is skilled in multiple voices and characters. This narrator has a limited range of expression and often sounded haughty and aloof. This did not engage me or help me to empathise with the characters.

Do you think Les Miserables needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Oh no! No follow-up book! 57 hour is long enough for one story. Anyway, the author is dead.

Any additional comments?

I was not familiar with many of the French terms, geography or history, which affected my understanding. This book may have been better for me to read.

A moving performance

For a public domain piece, and such a long one, this reader is clearly invested in this story. He breathes life into the characters. And the fact that he reads where, sometimes, you can hear birds singing in the background, is a charming and ethereal addition.

I AM SO GLAD IT’S OVER

I started listening to this in 1862. Beautifully read. Get a more updated version if you aren’t a brainiac.

sublime

Fantastically narrated, this version of Les Miserables was a joy to listen to. This is truly a novel for the ages.

A story of redemption that shines through ages

The story is epic and and reads like a fairytale. While the characters are too good to be true the lessons are all true as ever. Money is not goodness, goodness is not always rewarded, goodness is it’s own reward, judge not lest ye be judged, don’t trust men out for a good time. The story was a good one to be lost in for hours and is meandering enough to fill your mind with higher thoughts and lead you back without missing anything. My only complaint is that the narrator is so flat that his reading come off as sarcastic and disinterested, but it was a audible freebie so beggars can’t all be Thenardiers.

Powerful story with moving truths!

This book was well written. So much about humanity in it. A good emphasis on God over religion. Would recommend.