Les Misérables: Translated by Julie Rose

By: Victor Hugo, Julie Rose - translator

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 60 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

One of the great classics of world literature and the inspiration for the most beloved stage musical of all time, Les Misérables is legendary author Victor Hugo’s masterpiece. This extraordinary English version by renowned translator Julie Rose captures all the majesty and brilliance of Hugo’s work. Here is the timeless story of the quintessential hunted man—Jean Valjean—and the injustices, violence, and social inequalities that torment him.

©2008 Random House (P)2011 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

“Rich and gorgeous. This is the [translation] to read.” ( Times (London))

Wonderful Book

Where does Les Misérables: Translated by Julie Rose rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Amazing character development and wonderful story telling

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

60+ hours so no, but I've listened to 10 hours straight and really didn't want to stop

Beautiful Novel

If you could sum up Les Misérables: Translated by Julie Rose in three words, what would they be?

I love the opera version of Les Mis. I was hesitant to read the book because I did not think it would be as entertaining. Wrong! If anything, Victor Hugo paints the characters and the scenes so vividly, I can't stop listening! This is easily becoming my favorite book.

A book to read at least once in your life

** spoiler alert ** Les Miserables is the kind of book that stays with you. The characters, the twists of fate, the ethics. I especially loved the depth of character and moral dilemmas that Jean Valjean struggled with. It wasn't a one-time decision to be good, to be an angel — it was a lifetime of difficult decisions. His selfless decencies and charitable notions were inspiring just as Thenardier were revolting. Les Mis truly touched me and finishing it felt like saying goodbye to a friend.

But I do need to come clean with Marius and Cosette's relationship, and their characters as a whole. Marius and Cosette hardly knew each other, and I have a hard time seeing the depth of their relationship. They were infatuated. And Marius — for being as philosophical and progressive and generous (to the Thenardiers) as he is — it felt contradictory to see how cold and harsh he was to Jean Valjean when Valjean made his confession to him. And Cosette is a hollow character. The lack of imput works when she's an eight-year-old child, but as an adult it was off-putting. So much of the plot revolves around her, but she doesn't play an active role in any of it. Jean Valjean adores and protects her, and Marius loves her. But she's beautiful, so that makes it work, right?

That rant aside — this book is beautiful and should be read at least once in a lifetime.

Narrator Great, Story Fantastic, Translation Odd

Any additional comments?

I know a lot of people like the translation because it keeps the book from getting too "stuffy", but this is a literary masterpiece. I like formal wording for formal passages.

the best novel I have ever read!

I knew the story, or thought I knew the story from the musical and movie and songs, but the novel is SO incredibly much more. the characters are passionately deeper. the background is complex, abstract, and tangential at times, but rich. the ending is sweeter, more somber, more moving, and more bitter than any dramatization has ever captured. I can unequivocally state that Les Miserables is the best story I have EVER read!

Masterful narration enhances great story

Les Miserables is a powerful thought-provoking story. George Guidall’s narration made even the lengthy digressions enjoyable and his vocalizations of the different characters amazed me.

Spectacular

The translation and narration were simply spectacular. I can't imagine a better experience. Powerful and moving. The essay at the end was also really nicely done and insightful.

Wow

Wow. I can feel now why this is a classic. It moved and instructed me.

I feel educated, edified and changed by this book.

If you could sum up Les Misérables: Translated by Julie Rose in three words, what would they be?

No better book!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Les Misérables: Translated by Julie Rose?

The lecture on thievery that Jean Val Jean gives to Montparnasse about the difficulty behind stealing. After that speech, it's unthinkable that anyone would rationally turn to a life of stealing that wasn't at the last threads of desperation.

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

I haven't heard George Guidall's readings before, but he did a marvelous job. I was clinging to every word.

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

This book will take weeks to get through, but you'll wish it took longer.

Any additional comments?

They just don't write with this kind of education and insight anymore.

Epic tale excellently performed.

This novel is very 19th century. If you’ve read Dostoyevsky you will know what I mean. The characters and scenes are so incredibly well drawn and detailed that you are left feeling like you know some of them. The description of the Battle of Waterloo, for example, and which is only there as supporting backstory, is as vivid a telling of the horror of the battle for the average soldiers as any I’ve heard. The details, which one reviewer has compared to the gargoyles and windows of a Gothic cathedral, make the relatively simple story of a convict redeemed by a single act of charity into the great work of literature, history and commentary of Les Misérables.

The translation and narration were great. Both lent the book a lively and contemporary feel. Certain reviewer might not like the use of “the clink” in lieu of jail or prison (and obviously the French slang is different anyway), but the common crooks of 1830s Paris wouldn’t have sounded like they were on Masterpiece Theatre anyway.

For those familiar only with the musical expect your view to take two or three steps back and see the full sweep of the novel’s story. Some minor characters (Petit Gavroche, the impoverished botantist turned revolutionary, and of course M. Thenardiers) could have their own novellas in their own right.

There are a few slogs, I’ll admit, particularly with the endless proclamations of endless love between Cosette and Marius, however all-in-all the diversions and monologues on slang, names, the sewers of Paris and death by quicksand make Les Misérables the rich story that had endured so long.