A favorite of readers for nearly 150 years, and the basis for one of the most beloved stage musicals ever, this stirring tale of crime, punishment, justice, and redemption pulses with life and energy. Hugo sweeps readers from the French provinces to the back alleys of Paris, and from the battlefield of Waterloo to the bloody ramparts of Paris during the uprising of 1832.
First published in 1862, this sprawling novel is an extravagant historical epic that is teeming with harrowing adventures and unforgettable characters. In the protagonist, Jean Valjean, a quintessential prisoner of conscience who languished for years in prison for stealing bread to feed his starving family, Les Mis?rables depicts one of the grand themes in literature–that of the hunted man. Woven into the narrative are the prevalent social issues of Hugo’s day: injustice, authoritarian rule, social inequality, civic unrest. And this new translation brings astonishing vivacity and depth to Hugo’s immortal dramatis personae–the relentless police detective Javert, the saintly bishop Myriel, the tragic prostitute Fantine and her innocent daughter, Cosette, the dashing lover Marius, and many others whom Jean Valjean encounters on his path to sublime sacrifice.
This full-cast production captures the poignancy of eachcharacter, the injustice of the French monarchy, and the redemptivepower of faith and love. Copious music and special effects enrich thetext but never overpower the vocals. The performances of each actor,up to the finest stage standards, vividly bring the story to life,particularly those of Henry Goodman as the smarmy con man, Tanadier,and Lee Cornwall as the child revolutionary, Gavroche. Joss Ackland,as Victor Hugo narrating the tale, ties the performance together withcompassion and a sense of wisdom.
