Les Misérables

Penguin Classics

By: Christine Donougher, Victor Hugo, Robert Tombs

Narrated by: Adeel Akhtar, Natalie Simpson, Adrian Scarborough, Emma Fielding, John Owen-Jones

Length: 65 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

This Penguin Classic is performed by an ensemble cast which includes the BAFTA award-winning actor Adeel Akhtar (Killing Eve, The Night Manager, Les Miserables), Adrian Scarborough (Gavin and Stacey, The King's Speech), Natalie Simpson (Outlander, Les Miserables), Emma Fielding (Unforgotten, Les Miserables) and John Owen-Jones, who was the youngest actor ever to play the part of Jean Valjean in the stage show of Les Miserables, and who has appeared as Jean Valjean on Broadway and in the West End. This definitive recording includes an introduction by Robert Tombs.

Victor Hugo's tale of injustice, heroism and love follows the fortunes of Jean Valjean, an escaped convict determined to put his criminal past behind him. But his attempts to become a respected member of the community are constantly put under threat: by his own conscience and by the relentless investigations of the dogged policeman Javert. It is not simply for himself that Valjean must stay free, however, for he has sworn to protect the baby daughter of Fantine, driven to prostitution by poverty.

Public Domain (P)2020 Penguin Audio

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narrators dud a beautiful job. love love loved this, so sad it ended. best version ever

A superb version. Well translated, and narrated

I'm glad this is the version of Les Miserables I selected on audible. The narrators are excellent. Their voices are easily distinguishable, and they do a great job of voicing different point of view characters in a way that makes it easy for the listener to know who is speaking.
The translation made some great choices. Victor Hugo frequently described when characters are speaking to one another in French using the formal pronoun Vous versus the more familiar Tu. The hard copy of the book my son has translates these always as You in English without distinction. Here, in the Penguin Audiobook they retain the French words when appropriate to help the listener understand what Hugo wants you to see. It's a small thing, but well executed in this audiobook in my opinion. I read an abridged version when I was a teenager, and after listening to this unabridged audiobook I see that there is a lot about the politics of their day that could be omitted without losing any of the story of the main characters. However, I am enjoying this more complete view of the complexities of French opinions in the decades after Napoleon. It seems very similar to the passions and fierce animosities of our era. People are complicated, and they have the tendency of seeing their rivals as more simplistic. This is clear in Hugo's text as it is in our own 21st century lives.

Top 5 Books Of All Time

One of the greatest novels of all time. Now that I’ve finally read it, I know this to be true. Very talented voice artist(s).

Best book on Audible

This was magnificent. Every word a dagger to the soul. Beauty and horror present throughout. Each narrator brought a certain special essence. Marius book had my favorite narrator. She was one of the few who could capture Gavroche. Do not be turned off by the length or the time commitment. You will be elevated. Soul put higher.

Classic for a reason

The story of Les Miserable is one that resonates today just as much as when Victor Hugo wrote it. Beautiful and heartbreaking. Brokenness with a cry for redemption.

The length of the audio lends itself to the different narrators. I wish I could give more stars.

Great so far

It seems a bit strange writing a review for just the first part (of 6) but I guess it makes sense with there being several different narrators. This book has been on my list for a long time and I can see now why it gets so much acclaim. I was moved to tears several times already. Beautiful and profound. Yes, the writing style is a bit tedious sometimes, the level of detail and back-story. Reminds me of another favorite of mine, The Count of Monte Cristo, in the way it wanders along, with side stories and a plethora of seemingly unimportant characters. But it all adds to the mood making it feel real, and akin to life. The narrator did fine as well. I was not amazed as with some readers, in the different voices of characters, but the telling seems appropriate for the story itself, and that’s enough. He certainly doesn’t distract from the story and I appreciate that.

One of my favourite books

This was one of better translations. I will listen and read again. Definitely get lost in the story whenever I get into it.

So worth it

The weave of this read is fantastic. The depth of character was top notch. Enjoy.

First time

I've not read this, seen the musical, or movie before. needless to say it was everything I've thought it to be. fantastic! lived the whole thing. especially how the history is woven through it from the eyes of characters that lived it. great from start to finish

This was worth the 60+ Hours

I loved the story and this was more in-depth! Something that the musical misses. I loved the performances and never felt bored. I got this for a Paris trip and it was cool walking the areas where half the book was set in.