The novel's most significant theme is metamorphosis, both in terms of the individual and society. The main character, Jean Valjean, changes from a misogynistic and possibly violent ex-con to a man capable of heroic love and self-sacrifice. Love is the power that changes him. The bishop of Digne shows Valjean unwavering affection, confiding in him with his life and doing everything in his power. Valjean is inspired by this example to start a completely new life. He experiences moral tests, such as sacrificing his life to save Marius, who loves Cosette and whom Valjean despises, and learns to put others before himself as he raises Cosette as his own daughter. Generally speaking, the employees and students on the are admirable. This is a classic that bears reading and rereading. Among the top favorites of literature in translation in my library. ( )

I briefly toyed with taking off a half star for all of the lengthy tangents Hugo employs, most of which do little or nothing to advance the story, but damn, the book is so so so good anyway, I just couldn't do it. It took me 2 and 1/2 months to read it, but I was barreling through the last few hundred pages as Hugo brought all of the different threads together and created a crescendo so compelling and beautiful that it was virtually impossible to put down. There are a number of classics that I do not like because they lack coherent plots or have zero likeable characters. That was not the case with this one. I ached for Jean Valjean and everything he went through. The characters were so rich ... the internal dialogue of Javert at the end was a masterclass in and of itself ... and the plot was literally sublime. I am not a religious person, but I could still appreciate the religious overtones in the book and not feel preached at. Just so so so so so good. ( )

Esta novela trata los valores que había en la sociedad francesa a mediados del siglo XIX y sobre como lo afrontan las personas ante estas adversidades. ( )

Location : NWS

Listened to the audiobook version of this classic novel and it took me quite a while to get through the entire book. I was fascinated by the descriptions of society still grappling with its recent history of the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, but there's a lot more to this novel. I think I need to return to this book again, but to actually read the print version, as the audiobook didn't really work for me in this particular case. ( )