When the Beating of Your Heart Matches the Beating of the Drums
by Charlotte Reads Classics
Let us understand one another. Are we weeping for all innocents, all martyrs, all children, whether low-born or of high estate? Then I weep with you. But, as I said, we must then go back far beyond ’93 and Louis XVII. I will weep with you for the children of kings if you will weep with me for the children of the people.
The culmination of all my reading in 2013 ended at midnight, when I finished Les Misérables. I won’t lie, I was openly weeping. Finishing this book has managed to be both the highlight and biggest loss of January. Yes, there is always great satisfaction in completing such an iconic (and long) classic but I am devastated because book that hasn’t left my side in all this time is over.
Reading Hugo for the first time reminds me of Tolstoy because of the underlying philosophy that seeps through the story. From this book (and Anna Karenina) I think that their ideas are quite similar: The best you can do in life is to love other people and God, and being good and being happy are the same thing. Levin’s spiritual awakening is not unlike Valjean’s early encounter with the Bishop. This philosophy, whether it concerns the muzhiks or French peasants, at its simplest level should extend to politics. The suffering of the wretched all comes down to the government or the King not loving the people. This contrast of law and love is excellently and unpreachingly drawn between Jean Valjean and Javert. Both men are doing what is right, but one stands for human kindness, the other for duty.
A brief timeline of my reading experience would go as such:
- Part I Fantine: This is really good, even the bit about the Bishop. Excited.
- Part II Cosette: This is Anna Karenina style good. This book is amazing! Why do people not like it?
- Part III Marius: I don’t like him, more Jean Valjean please.
- Part IV The Idyll in the Rue Plumet and the Epic of the Rue Saint-Denis: Well, quite good but this is dragging on a bit.
- Part V Jean Valjean: I CAN’T STOP CRYING
What makes Les Misérables so great? Jean Valjean. In my humble opinion, he is the greatest character in any book I’ve ever read and is definitely the benchmark for all literary greatness. Seriously, you should read this book just for Jean Valjean, an ex-convict whose journey takes him to represent the best values of humanity. I’m way too close to the end of the book to write about him properly because I just want to write in capitals and gush relentlessly. HE IS THE BEST MAN. During twenty or so years he overcame his hatred for the society that refused to see past his so-called crimes. His character is an amazing feat of writing, with a perfect ending.
The only aspect of this book, really, that prevents it from becoming an absolute favourite is that there is so much in it slowing down the action – when I really really really needed to know what was happening to Jean Valjean I found it hard to read twenty pages on Paris’ sewer system. The topical essay style sidelines were interesting, but the highlight for me was definitely the plot. Well, the plot involving Jean Valjean anyway.
Yesterday evening I went to see the film and I really enjoyed it. Sadly I had to leave for the cinema with thirty-three pages left unread but luckily I had pretty much read all the plot in the film. I love the songs from the musical (although a lot of the singing was far from perfect) but the main things that stood out were that the film was very beautifully shot and very well cast. However, despite being a good few hours long it was so shallow, compared to the terrifying depths of Hugo’s novel.
Hats off to Hugh Jackman, who was totally what I wanted Jean Valjean to be.
I’ll just say it again: He’s so good, you should really read about him.
Charlotte Reads Classics 
Excellent post! Great call connecting Hugo’s theme with Tolstoy’s in Anna Karenina, another favorite of mine!
Thanks, Ben – I was more than happy to read a book that made me think of Anna Karenina and what a book it was! You weren’t wrong!
On your good word I’ve long-listed Les Miserables.
Excellent, hope you enjoy it when you get around to it.
I really, really want to read this, but I don’t know when I’ll have the time. Sigh. I’ve read so many good things about it, though.
Put it on your one day list 🙂 It certainly was quite an all absorbing past time for the last couple of weeks.
This novel was a great pleasure to write about, which has been true of Hugo in general come to think of it. He just overflows with ideas. And of course I could hardly care less about plot. Hugo has something for everyone!
Absolutely, there is just as much to be got from his ideas and politics as there was from the plot, although the plot was definitely what I enjoyed the most.
I cannot wait to read Les Mis! And how encouraging that you compare it in several ways to Anna Karenina, now one of my favorites. BTW, have you watched the Les Miserables 25th Anniversary CONCERT (on YouTube) w/ Alfie Boe? My kids and I watch it often, (in parts b/c it is 12 parts long), and it is beautiful, powerful, and emotional. Also, if you ever get a chance, go to see it in the theater. It’s amazing!
I haven’t and actually now I’d love to see a theatre production – I will keep an eye out!
Can’t wait to get started on this, love that the film is inspiring so many to read or reread it!
I agree, I probably wouldn’t have read it for years if I hadn’t heard about the film. Looking forward to hearing what you think!
I actually did read this years and years ago, I think I really enjoyed it. I had wanted to read it after seeing the musical. I wonder now if I fully appreciated the book at the time (I was only about 22) I am looking forward to seeing the film though.
I think it would definitely benefit from reading more than once (although I don’t think I’ll be doing that for a long time!) because there is so much to it. Plus I’d love to see the musical.
Yes to all of this. This is exactly what I feel about this novel, all five parts of it, and Jean Valjean. He’s the greatest character I’ve ever read about. Excellent review.
Thanks – from reading your post about it as well I think we have very similar opinions about Jean Valjean, I think he will stay with me longer than any other character I’ve ever read about.
So, I’ve been *very* apprehensive about Les Mis because of the length. Which is funny, because this doesn’t put me off British Victorians, but there it is.
However, you’ve changed my mind! I must read this.
I did see the movie, and was a massive fan of the show growing up, and I wept throughout the second half. It’s funny that you didn’t get on with book-Marius, because Eddie Redmayne’s was one of the standout performances in the film for me. I wonder if I picture him while reading the book I’ll like Marius a bit more?
Oh I do that too, get put off by lengths of books in some genres I’d have no problem with in others. I did really like Eddie Redmayne in the film who plays (I’m not sure if its the same in the musical) a much livelier version of Marius than the Marius in the book! I think as well comparatively Marius and Cosette are nowhere near as powerful as characters like Jean Valjean or Fantine.
I’m going to see Les Mis on Wednesday, and I’m SO sad that I haven’t had time (or just haven’t) to read the book beforehand! But oh maaaaan, you’ve so made sure that I’m going to read it soon! 🙂
Do it! Do it! And enjoy the film 😀
I read the book 24 years ago, never saw the stage production and saw the movie 12/26. Great post. I think that in some way the book adds so much to the musical so people shouldn’t be afraid to see it before they read the book. See the movie, then read the book for an even greater understanding of what is going on, and by that time the DVD should be out so you can watch it again…and again…and again….
Haha yes I’m even tempted to see it in the cinema again! Because I read the book first its hard for me to guess what I’d have thought if I hadn’t… but I think i would have liked it and it would probably have made me want to read the book to see how they compared. You are right though, there is much more depth to the book but all the basics are in the film.
I agree with you about Marius being extremely annoying – in fact, the Musical (I haven’t seen the film yet) waters down his character quite a bit. Hugo’s continuous moralising on the subject of Marius and Cosette is the only part about the book that I don’t like. Sitting for three months on a bench together, every night, and kissing once is an account of a relationship that simply doesn’t ring true.
But apart from that minor, nit-picky point, astounding, brilliant book. The Friends of the ABC live long in the memory, Enjolras’ death is heartbreaking, as is Gavroche’s, Javert is a magnificent character, and as for Valjean, well… nothing needs to be said. And I loved the digressions as well, strangely enough – the Battle of Waterloo was described bloody brilliantly! As were the sewers, and Parisian slang.
Agreed, I suppose it is just one part that i didn’t like, except Hugo seems to be much prouder of Marius and Cosette than his readers. It took me awhile to get into the ABC and Enjolras parts but again I think that it was because Marius was there putting me off! I did like the Battle of Waterloo part.. well all the side notes were interesting I just didn’t have the patience for all of them.
I saw the movie last night – a very good job, for the most part, but I think they dealt with the Revolution a bit shoddily. And how *dare* they truncate On My Own and Drink With Me?!
I saw the film yesterday afternoon and was surprised how neatly they’d summarised the key plot points while tweaking the characters quite a bit. Still, the music was wonderful and anything that gets people back to one of the most powerful books those-of-us-lucky-enough-to-have-experienced-it have read is fine by me… 😉
Yes, it would have been a long time before I’d read this if I hadn’t had the upcoming film spurring me along! I did think in the first half hour/45 minutes that they were racing through the plot but I suppose there was a lot to fit in… I would have liked more of the beginning parts with the Bishop though (but I can see why they cut him out).
I saw the show in London about 15 years ago. I don’t do musicals per se but this was incredible. Standing ovation, everyone weeping. Amazing.
I’d love to see it as I imagine that would be the effect it had on me too!
I absolutely loved the movie and it has inspired me to read the book (unabridged, btw!)