Les Misérables
Portrait of "Cosette" by Emile Bayard, from the original edition of Les Misérables (1862)
Author	Victor Hugo
Country	France
Language	French
Genre(s)	Novel
Publisher	A. Émile-Antoine Bayard (1837-1891 was born November 2, 1837, in La Ferté-sous-Jouarre, France. Victor-Marie Hugo ( ( February 26, 1802 – May 22, 1885) was a French Poet, Playwright, Novelist This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people A novel (from Italian novella, Spanish novela, French nouvelle for "new" "news" or "short story Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of Literature or Information &ndash the activity of making information available for public view Lacroix, Verboeckhoven & Ce.
Publication date	1862
Media type	Print

Les Misérables (translated variously from French as The Miserable Ones, The Wretched, The Poor Ones, The Wretched Poor, The Victims) (1862) is a novel by French author Victor Hugo, and among the best-known novels of the 19th century. The year 1862 in literature involved some significant new books French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Suffering, or pain, is an individual's basic Affective experience of unpleasantness and aversion associated with harm or threat of harm Poverty (also called penury) is deprivation of common necessities that determine the quality of life including food clothing shelter and safe Drinking water, and Year 1862 was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Monday A novel (from Italian novella, Spanish novela, French nouvelle for "new" "news" or "short story Legal residents and citizens To be French according to the first article of the Constitution is to be a citizen of France regardless of one's origin race or religion ( Victor-Marie Hugo ( ( February 26, 1802 – May 22, 1885) was a French Poet, Playwright, Novelist The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar It follows the lives and interactions of several French characters over a twenty year period in the early 19th century that includes the Napoleonic wars and subsequent decades. Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821 was a French military and political leader who had a significant impact on the History of Europe. Principally focusing on the struggles of the protagonist—ex-convict Jean Valjean—who seeks to redeem himself, the novel also examines the impact of Valjean's actions for the sake of social commentary. The Protagonist or main character is the central figure of a story. Jean Valjean is the chief protagonist of Victor Hugo 's 1862 novel Les Misérables, or The Miserable Ones in English translation It examines the nature of good, evil, and the law, in a sweeping story that expounds upon the history of France, architecture of Paris, politics, moral philosophy, law, justice, religion, and the types and nature of romantic and familial love. The History of France has been divided into a series of separate historical articles navigable through the list to the right The term architecture (from Greek αρχιτεκτονικήarchitektoniki) can be used to mean a process a profession or documentation Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city Politics Politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions Ethics is a major branch of Philosophy, encompassing right conduct and good life Law is a system of rules enforced through a set of Institutions used as an instrument to underpin civil obedience politics economics and society JUSTICE is a Human rights and law reform organisation based in the United Kingdom. A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos NOTICE TO WOULD-BE-ROMEOS*************** Love is any of a number of Emotions and experiences related to a sense of strong Affection. Hugo was inspired by the real-life criminal/policeman François Eugène Vidocq, and split his personalities into the two main characters in his novel. Eugène François Vidocq ( July 23, 1775 &ndash May 11, 1857) was a French criminal who later became the first director of Les Misérables is known to many through its numerous stage and screen adaptations, of which the most famous is the stage musical of the same name, sometimes abbreivated "Les Mis" or "Les Miz" (pronounced /leɪ ˈmɪz/). Les Misérables ( in French, le mize'ʁaːbl colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz, is a musical composed

Plot summary

Les Misérables contains a multitude of plots, but the thread that binds them together is the story of the ex-convict Jean Valjean who becomes a force for good in the world, but cannot escape his past. The novel is divided into five parts, each part divided into books, and subdivided into chapters. Each chapter is relatively short; usually no longer than a few pages. Nevertheless, the book in its entirety is quite lengthy by usual standards, well exceeding twelve hundred pages in unabridged editions. Abridgement or abridgment is a term defined as "shortening" or "condensing" and is most commonly used in reference to the act of reducing a written work Within the borders of the novel's story arc, Hugo fills many pages with his thoughts on religion, politics, and society, including his three lengthy digressions, one being a discussion on enclosed religious orders, another being on argot, and most famously, his epic retelling of the Battle of Waterloo. A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos Politics Politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions A society is a Population of Humans characterized by patterns of relationships between individuals that share a distinctive Culture and Institutions A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion usually Argot ( French, Spanish and Catalan for " Slang " is a Secret language used by various groups—including but not limited In the Battle of Waterloo (Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo Belgium

The story starts in 1815, in Toulon. Year 1815 ( MDCCCXV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Toulon ( Provençal Occitan: Tolon in classical norm or Touloun in Mistralian norm is a city in southern France and a large After five years of imprisonment in the bagne of Toulon for stealing bread for his starving sister and her family, and fourteen more for numerous attempts to escape, the peasant Jean Valjean is released. The bagne of Toulon was the notorious prison in Toulon, France, made famous as the place of imprisonment of Jean Valjean, the hero of Les Miserables However, he is required to carry a yellow passport, which marks him as a convict. Rejected by innkeepers, who do not want to take in a convict, Valjean sleeps on the street. However, the benevolent Bishop Myriel takes him in and gives him shelter. In the night, he steals the bishop’s silverware and runs. He is caught, but the bishop rescues him by claiming that the silver was a gift and at that point gives him two candlesticks as well. The bishop then tells him he must become an honest man and must perform good deeds for others. As Valjean broods over these words, he steals a child's money, and chases the child away. Soon after he realizes his mistake, and decides to follow the bishop's advice. He searches the city for the child whose money he stole. At the same time, his theft is reported to the authorities, which now look for him as a repeat offender.

Six years later, Valjean, having assumed the pseudonym of Monsieur Madeleine to avoid capture, has become a wealthy factory owner and is appointed mayor of his adopted town of Montreuil-sur-mer. Valjean meets the dying Fantine , who has been fired from her job at his factory and has resorted to prostitution. Fantine is a character in Victor Hugo 's 1862 novel Les Misérables. Prostitution is the act of performing Sexual activity in exchange for Money. She has a young daughter, Cosette, who lives with a corrupt innkeeper and his selfish, cruel wife. Cosette is a fictional character in the novel Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. The Thénardiers (commonly referred to as Thénardier and Madame Thénardier are two of the primary villains in Victor Hugo 's novel Les Misérables Separated from Cosette, Fantine is slowly dying from an unnamed disease (probably tuberculosis). Valjean, seeing in Fantine similarities to his former life of hardship, promises her that he will take care of Cosette, despite the imminent threat of arrest. The town's police inspector Javert had already suspected the identity of Madeleine and Valjean, whom he had seen in jail but this suspicion is momentarily dispelled when another man, mistakenly accused of being Valjean, is put on trial. Javert is a Fictional character from the novel Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. To save the man, Valjean reveals himself to the court and is sent to jail. During his incarceration, Valjean fakes his death and escapes. He pays off the innkeeper, Thénardier, to obtain Cosette, and flees with her to Paris. Once in Paris, they find shelter in a convent.

Ten years later, as Cosette and Valjean are leaving the convent, students, led by Enjolras, are preparing an anti-Orléanist revolution on the eve of the Paris uprising on June 5–6, 1832, following the death of General Lamarque, the only French leader who had sympathy towards the working class. The Orléanists were a French Right-wing / Center-right Political faction or party which arose out of the French Revolution Jean Maximilien Lamarque (1770–1832 was a French commander during the Napoleonic Wars who later became a member of French Parliament. They are also joined by the poor, including the young street urchin Gavroche. Gavroche is also a French beer produced by Brasserie de Saint-Sylvestre. One of the students, Marius Pontmercy, who has become alienated from his family because of his liberal views, falls in love with Cosette, who has grown to be very beautiful. Novel Marius and his Father We first meet Marius in book three of Les Misérables where he lives with his rich grandfather Monsieur Gillenormand The Thénardiers, who have also moved to Paris, lead a gang of thieves to raid Valjean’s house while Marius is visiting. However, Thénardier’s daughter, Éponine, who is also in love with Marius, convinces the thieves to leave. Éponine Thénardier is a character in Victor Hugo 's 1862 novel Les Misérables. Valjean, believing that he has again been found by the authorities, plans to move to London.

"The War: Defence of Paris—Students Going to Man the Barricades". - a real-life scene from the Siege of Paris, eight years after Hugo's novel was published. The Siege of Paris, lasting from September 19, 1870 &ndash January 28, 1871, brought about French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War

The following day, the students revolt and erect barricades in the narrow streets of Paris. Marius, believing that Cosette has gone to London with her father and that he will never see her again, goes to die with his friends. Valjean, learning that Cosette's lover is fighting, joins them, not certain if he wants to protect Marius, or kill him. Éponine also joins to protect Marius and ends up taking a bullet for him and dying happily in his arms. During the ensuing battle, Valjean saves Javert from being killed by the students and lets him go. Valjean carries off the injured Marius, but all others, including Enjolras and Gavroche, are killed. Valjean escapes through the sewers, carrying Marius' body on his shoulders. At the exit, he runs into Javert, whom he persuades to give him time to return Marius to his family. Javert grants this request and another, and then realizes that he is caught between his belief in the law and the mercy Valjean has shown him, as he can no longer give Valjean up to the authorities. Unable to cope with this dilemma, Javert throws himself into the Seine. The Seine (sɛn in French) is a slow flowing major River and commercial waterway within the regions of Île-de-France and Haute-Normandie Marius and Cosette are soon married. Valjean confesses to Marius that he is an ex-convict. Marius is horrified. Convinced that Valjean is of poor moral character, he steers Cosette away from him. Valjean loses the will to live and takes to his bed. Marius learns of Valjean's good deeds too late and rushes to Valjean's house, where he lies dying. Valjean reveals his past to the pair and in his final moments realizes happiness finally with his adopted daughter and son-in-law by his side. He expresses his love to them, and then dies.

Primary characters

• Jean Valjean (a. Jean Valjean is the chief protagonist of Victor Hugo 's 1862 novel Les Misérables, or The Miserable Ones in English translation k. a. Monsieur Madeleine, a. k. a. Ultime Fauchelevent, a. k. a. Monsieur Leblanc, a. k. a. Urbain Fabre):Convicted for stealing a loaf of bread, he paroled from prison nineteen years later. Rejected as former convict, Bishop Myriel turns his life around. He assumes a new identity to pursue an honest life, becomes a factory owner and a mayor. He adopts and raises Fantine's daughter, Cosette, and dies at an old age.
• Bishop Myriel, the bishop of Digne: A kindly old priest who is promoted to bishop by a chance encounter with Napoleon. Bishop Myriel is a character in Victor Hugo 's Les Misérables. He convinces Valjean to change his ways, after Valjean steals some silver from him.
• Javert: An obsessive police inspector who continuously hunts, tracks down, and loses Valjean. Javert is a Fictional character from the novel Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. He goes undercover behind the barricade, but is unmasked. Being undercover is disguising one's own identity or using an assumed identity for the purposes of gaining the trust of an individual or organization to learn secret information Valjean has the chance to kill him, but lets Javert go. Jean Valjean is the chief protagonist of Victor Hugo 's 1862 novel Les Misérables, or The Miserable Ones in English translation Later Javert allows Valjean to escape. For the first time, Javert is in a situation in which to act lawfully is immoral. His inner conflict leads him to committing suicide by jumping into the River Seine. The Seine (sɛn in French) is a slow flowing major River and commercial waterway within the regions of Île-de-France and Haute-Normandie
• Fantine: A Parisian grisette abandoned by her lover, Fantine leaves her daughter Cosette in the care of the Thénardiers, innkeepers in a village called Montfermeil. Fantine is a character in Victor Hugo 's 1862 novel Les Misérables. The word grisette (sometimes spelled grizette) has referred to a French working-class woman from the late 17th century and remained in common use though the Belle She finds work at Monsieur Madeleine's factory, but is fired by a woman supervisor because she is an unwed mother. To meet repeated demands for money from the Thénardiers, she sells her hair, then her front teeth, and finally turns to prostitution. Valjean learns of her plight when Javert arrests her for attacking a citizen who threw snow down her back. She dies of tuberculosis before Valjean is able to reunite her with Cosette.
• Cosette: The daughter of Fantine, she is raised by Jean Valjean after her mother dies. Cosette is a fictional character in the novel Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. She falls in love with Marius Pontmercy, and marries him at the end of the novel. For the first few years she is raised, she is used as a worker and beaten by the Thénardiers.
• Marius Pontmercy: An aristocrat who fell out with his royalist grandfather after discovering his father was an officer under Napoleon. Novel Marius and his Father We first meet Marius in book three of Les Misérables where he lives with his rich grandfather Monsieur Gillenormand He studies law, joins the revolutionary ABC students and later falls in love with Cosette.
• Thénardiers: A corrupt innkeeper and his wife. The Thénardiers (commonly referred to as Thénardier and Madame Thénardier are two of the primary villains in Victor Hugo 's novel Les Misérables They take in Cosette in her first years, mistreating her. He is later the head of a criminal gang. He is also Marius' next-door neighbour and recognized by Marius as the man who tended to his father at Waterloo.
• Éponine: The Thénardiers' daughter. Éponine Thénardier is a character in Victor Hugo 's 1862 novel Les Misérables. She is obsessed with Marius and extremely jealous of Cosette. She dies at the barricades when she reaches out her hand to stop a bullet heading for Marius: she is mortally wounded as the bullet goes through her back and dies. Her final request is that once she has passed, Marius will kiss her. He does.
• Gavroche: The unloved son of the Thénardiers and brother of Éponine. Gavroche is also a French beer produced by Brasserie de Saint-Sylvestre. He lives on his own and is a street urchin. He takes part in the barricades and dies collecting bullets from dead National Guardsmen.
• Enjolras: The leader of the revolutionary students. Enjolras is the charismatic leader of the Friends of the ABC in the Victor Hugo book and musical adaptation of Les Misérables. He dies during the fighting at the barricade.

Other Characters

• Mademoiselle Baptistine - Bishop Myriel's sister. She loves and venerates her brother.
• Madame Magloire - Domestic servant for the Bishop and his sister. She grumbles at the life of poverty the Bishop insists upon, and is fearful that he leaves the door open to strangers.
• Sister Simplice - A nun who cares for Fantine on her sickbed.
• Petit Gervais - A small boy who drops a coin. Valjean, still a man of criminal mind, places his foot on the coin and refuses to return it to the boy, despite Gervais' protests. When the boy flees the scene and Valjean comes to his senses, remembering what the bishop had done for him, he is horribly ashamed of what he has done and searches for the boy in vain.
• Fauchelevent - Valjean saves Fauchelevent’s life when Valjean is able to lift a carriage he is caught underneath. Fauchelevent later will return the favor by providing sanctuary for Valjean and Cosette at a convent, and by providing his name for Valjean's use.
• Monsieur Gillenormand - Marius's grandfather. A Monarchist, he disagrees sharply with Marius on political issues, and they have several arguments. He attempts to keep Marius from being influenced by his father, an officer in Napoleon's army. While in perpetual conflict over ideas, he does illustrate his love for his grandson.
• Mademoiselle Gillenormand - M. Gillenormand's daughter, she lives with her father.
• Colonel Georges Pontmercy - Marius's father, and an officer in Napoleon's army. Wounded at Waterloo, Pontmercy erroneously believes M. Thénardier saves his life. He tells Marius of this debt.
• Azelma - The daughter of the Thénardiers; she lives with her family, and is part of the reason why Fantine leaves Cosette with them. Azelma participates in the Gorbeau robbery and, aside from Thénardier himself, she is the only Thénardier who does not die— it is implied that she goes to America with her father.
• Grantaire - Alcoholic womanizing revolutionary student who, unlike the other revolutionaries, doesn't strongly believe in the cause of the ABC Society, but is a member because he hero-worships Enjolras. Enjolras is the charismatic leader of the Friends of the ABC in the Victor Hugo book and musical adaptation of Les Misérables. Grantaire is executed in the wine shop with Enjolras.

Critical reception

The first two volumes of Les Misérables were published on 3 April 1862, heralded by a massive advertising campaign;^[1] the remainder of the novel appeared on 15 May 1862. At the time, Victor Hugo enjoyed a reputation as one of France's foremost poets, and the appearance of the novel was a highly anticipated event.

Critical reactions were wide-ranging and often negative; some critics found the subject matter immoral, others complained of its excessive sentimentality, and still others were disquieted by its apparent sympathy with the revolutionaries. ^[2] The Goncourt brothers expressed their great dissatisfaction, judging the novel artificial and disappointing. The Goncourt brothers were Edmond de Goncourt (1822-96 and Jules de Goncourt (1830-70 both French Naturalist writers ^[3] Flaubert could find within it "neither truth nor greatness. Gustave Flaubert (gystaːv flobɛːʁ in French ( December 12, 1821 &ndash May 8, 1880) was a French writer who is counted among "^[4] Baudelaire reviewed the work glowingly in newspapers,^[5] but in private castigated it as "tasteless and inept. "

Nonetheless, the book was a great commercial success. First translated into foreign languages (including Italian, Greek and Portuguese) the same year it originally appeared, it proved popular not only in France, but across Europe. ^[6][7]

Translations

English translations

At least six English translations of the novel exist, by:

• Charles E. Wilbour. Charles Edwin Wilbour ( March 17, 1833 – December 17, 1896) was an American journalist and Egyptologist New York: Carleton Publishing Company. June 1862. The first American translation, published only months after the French edition of the novel was released.

• Lascelles Wraxall. London: Hurst and Blackett. October 1862. The first British translation.

• Translator Unknown. Richmond, Virginia. 1863. Published by West and Johnston publishers. [3]

• Isabel F. Hapgood. Published 1887, this translation is available at Project Gutenberg. Project Gutenberg, abbreviated as PG, is a volunteer effort to Digitize, archive and distribute Cultural works [4]

• Norman Denny. Penguin Classics. 1976. This edition is sometimes erroneously considered unabridged; however, in Norman Denny's introduction, he states that several of the longer passages that did not directly relate to the plot were removed. Paperback ISBN 0-140-44430-0

• Lee Fahnestock and Norman MacAfee. Signet Classics. March 3, 1987. Events 1284 - Statute of Rhuddlan incorporated the Principality of Wales into England 1575 - Indian Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) An unabridged edition based on the Wilbour translation with modernization of language, generally considered the most readable of current translations. Paperback ISBN 0-451-52526-4

Arabic translations

Several translations of the novel exist, notably by:

• Munir al-Baalbaki — both abridged and unabridged copies (the latter in five volumes) exist. They were published for the first time in 1955 in Beirut, Lebanon. Year 1955 ( MCMLV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar) Beirut (بيروت Bayrūt) is the Capital and Largest city of Lebanon with a population of over 2 Lebanon (ˈlɛbənɒn Arabic: ar لبنان Lubnān) officially the Republic of Lebanon or Lebanese Republic (ar الجمهورية اللبنانية
• Hafiz Ibrahim — an abridged translation which appears in two small volumes. Hafez Ibrahim (1872 - 1932 was an Egyptian poet called the Poet of the Nile.

Adaptations

Film adaptations

• 1907, On the barricade, directed Alice Guy Blaché, early adaptation of a part of the novel
• 1907, Le Chemineau
• 1909, directed by J. Stuart Blackton
• 1911, directed by Albert Capellani
• 1913, directed again by Albert Capellani
• 1913, The Bishop's Candlesticks, directed Herbert Brenon, adaptation of the second book of the first volume
• 1917, directed by Frank Lloyd
• 1922, director unknown
• 1923, Aa Mujo, directed by Kiyohiko Ushihara and Yoshinobu Ikeda, Japanese film, production cancelled after two of four parts
• 1925, directed by Henri Fescourt
• 1929, The Bishop's Candlesticks, directed by Norman McKinnell, first sound film adaptation
• 1929, Aa mujo, directed by Seika Shiba, Japanese film
• 1931, Jean Valjean, directed by Tomu Uchida, Japanese film
• 1934, directed by Raymond Bernard
• 1935, directed by Richard Boleslawski
• 1937, Gavrosh, directed by Tatyana Lukashevich, Soviet film
• 1938, Kyojinden, directed by Mansaku Itami, Japanese film
• 1943, Los Miserables, directed by Renando A. Alice Guy-Blaché ( July 1, 1873 &ndash March 24, 1968) was a pioneer Filmmaker who was the first female director in the motion picture James Stuart Blackton ( January 5, 1875 - August 13, 1941) usually known as J Herbert Brenon ( January 13, 1880 - June 21, 1958) was a Film director during the era of Silent movies through For the Australian actor see Frank Lloyd (actor. For the French horn player see Frank Lloyd (horn player. was a Japanese film director Tomu Uchida whose name translates to “spit out dreams” is considered one of the less well known masters of Japanese cinema in the West whose films are Les Misérables ( 1934) is a Dramatic film based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo written and directed by Raymond Raymond Bernard ( October 10, 1891 - December 12, 1977) was an influential French Filmmaker and son of French Playwright Les Misérables ( 1935) is a film based upon the famous Victor Hugo novel of the same name. Ryszard Bolesławski ( February 4, 1889 - January 17, 1937) was a Polish Film director, Actor and teacher of Mansaku Itami (伊丹万作 real name Yoshitoyo Ikeuchi 池内義豊 1900-1946 was a Japanese Film director originally from Matsuyama Ehime. Rovero, Mexican film
• 1944, El Boassa, directed by Kamal Selim, Egyptian film
• 1947, I Miserabili, directed by Riccardo Freda
• 1949, Les Nouveaux Misérables, directed by Henri Verneuil
• 1950, Re mizeraburu: Kami to Akuma, directed by Daisuke Ito, English title: Gods and demons
• 1950, Ezai Padum Pado, dirceted by K. Riccardo Freda (born in Alexandria, Egypt, February 24, 1909 - died in Paris, France, December 20, 1999 Henri Verneuil ( October 15, 1920 - January 11, 2002) was a prominent French playwright and filmmaker Ramnoth, Indian film
• 1952, directed by Lewis Milestone
• 1952, I miserabili, re-release of the 1947-film
• 1955, Kundan, directed by Sohrab Modi, Indian Hindi film
• 1958, directed by Jean-Paul Le Chanois
• 1967, directed by Alan Bridges
• 1967, Os Miseráveis, Brazilian film
• 1967, Sefiler, Turkish film
• 1972, directed by Marcel Bluwal
• 1973, Los Miserables, directed by Antulio Jimnez Pons, Mexican adaptation
• 1977, Cosette, animation
• 1978, UK telefilm, directed by Glenn Jordan
• 1978, Al Boasa, Egyptian adaptation
• 1979, Jean Valjean Monogatari, directed by Takashi Kuoka, Japanese animation
• 1982, directed by Robert Hossein
• 1985, TV version of the 1985 film
• 1988, animation
• 1990, directed by Jean-Paul Rappeneau
• 1995, directed by Claude Lelouch (a loose, multi-layered adaptation set in the 20th century starring Jean-Paul Belmondo)
• 1995, Les Misérables - The Dream Cast in Concert Musical done in concert style
• 1998, directed by Bille August and starring Liam Neeson, Geoffrey Rush, Uma Thurman, and Claire Danes
• 2000, French TV miniseries directed by Josée Dayan and co-produced by Gérard Depardieu (starring: Gérard Depardieu, Christian Clavier, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Virginie Ledoyen, Asia Argento, Jeanne Moreau, Veronica Ferres, John Malkovich,. Les Misérables is a 1952 film adaptation of the novel Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. Lewis Milestone (born Lev Milstein) ( September 30 1895 - September 25 1980) was an Academy Award -winning motion picture Sohrab Modi (1897 - 1984 was an Indian Parsi stage and film actor director and producer Les Misérables is a film version of the Victor Hugo novel released in France on March 12 1958. Cosette is a fictional character in the novel Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. Glenn A Jordan (b 5 April 1936; San Antonio Texas) is an American Film director, producer and Screenwriter. Les Misérables is a 1982 French Drama film directed by Robert Hossein. Robert Hossein (born December 30, 1927 in Paris) is a French film actor director and writer Jean-Paul Rappeneau (born 8 April 1932 at Auxerre) is a French film director screenwriter and actor Les Misérables is a 1995 movie written and directed by Claude Lelouch. Claude Lelouch (born 30 October 1937 is a French Film director, writer, Cinematographer, Actor and producer. Jean-Paul Belmondo (born 9 April 1933 is a French Actor initially associated with the New Wave of the 1960s Les Misérables - The Dream Cast in Concert aka Les Misérables in Concert is a concert version of the musical Les Misérables, Les Misérables is a 1998 film version of Victor Hugo 's 1862 novel of the same name, directed by Bille August. Bille August (born November 9, 1948) is a Danish Film and Television director. William John "Liam" Neeson OBE (born June 7, 1952) is an Irish Actor. Geoffrey Roy Rush (born 6 July 1951 is a Golden Globe - BAFTA - Emmy - AFI - and Academy Award -winning Australian actor Uma Karuna Thurman ( IPA: /ˈumə ˈθɝmən/ born April 29 1970 is an Academy Award -nominated American actress. Claire Catherine Danes (born April 12, 1979) is a Golden Globe Award -winning and Emmy Award -nominated American Film Gérard Xavier Marcel Depardieu CQ (born 27 December 1948) is one of France's most prominent actors Gérard Xavier Marcel Depardieu CQ (born 27 December 1948) is one of France's most prominent actors Christian Clavier is a French actor born May 6, 1952 in Paris. Charlotte Lucy Gainsbourg (born 21 July or 22 July 1971 is a British-French actress and singer Virginie Ledoyen (born 15 November, 1976) is a French actress. Asia Aria Maria Vittoria Rossa Argento (born September 20 1975 is an Italian Television and Film actress and director. Jeanne Moreau (French ʒan mɔˈʁo born 23 January, 1928) is a BAFTA Awards -winning French Actress, Screenwriter Veronica Ferres (born 1965 is a German Actress who gained fame as Pierre Richard 's co-star in the French TV-movie Sans famille and John Gavin Malkovich (born December 9, 1953) is an Emmy Award -winning two-time Academy Award -nominated American Actor . . )
• 2007, Les Misérables: Shōjo Cosette, Japanese animated TV series by Nippon Animation
• 2007, Les Misérables: School Version copyrighted
• 2008, Les Misérables: Le Capitole de Quebec Version directed by Frédéric Dubois
• 2008, Les Misérables, Dutch version on stage. is a Japanese Anime series by Nippon Animation, as the latest installment to the famed World Masterpiece Theater series Translated by Seth Gaaikema, associative directing by Mariano Detry.
• 2008, Les Misérables, Maltese version on stage. Translated by Trevor Zahra, St. Michael School Qormi, Malta, directed by Tonio Callus and Robert Alosio. Malta, officially the Republic of Malta (Repubblika ta' Malta is a European Microstate, comprising an Archipelago of three islands

Musical adaptation

In 1980, a musical of the same name (see Les Misérables (musical)) opened in Paris which has gone on to become the most successful musical in history. Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) Musical theatre is a form of Theatre combining Music, Songs spoken Dialogue and Dance. Les Misérables ( in French, le mize'ʁaːbl colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz, is a musical composed Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city It was written by Robert Hossein and the composer Claude-Michel Schönberg and the librettist Alain Boublil. Claude-Michel Schönberg (born July 6, 1944 in Vannes, France) is a French record producer actor singer popular songwriter and Musical Alain Boublil is a Librettist, born in Tunisia in 1941 best known for his collaborations with the composer Claude-Michel Schönberg. Many of the songs from Les Misérables, the musical, are well-known individually in the music world. Les Misérables

Adaptations in other media

In 1935, Solomon Cleaver published a short English-language adaptation titled Jean Val Jean. Year 1935 ( MCMXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Solomon Cleaver (1855–1939 was a Winnipeg minister and Storyteller best known for his adaptation of Victor Hugo 's Les Misérables English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States For the french porn star Jean Val Jean (porn star Jean Val Jean is a 1935 novel by Solomon Cleaver. It remains a popular children's version of Les Misérables.

In 1937, Orson Welles wrote, produced and directed a seven-part series for radio. Year 1937 ( MCMXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. George Orson Welles (May 6 1915 – October 10 1985 was an Academy Award -winning director, writer actor and producer for film stage radio and television Welles himself narrated the story and played the part of Valjean. The series co-starred Martin Gabel as Inspector Javert, and featured his then wife Virginia Nicholson Welles as the older Cosette, with Gwen Davies (young Cosette), Alice Frost (Fantine), William Johnstone (Marius), and in other roles, Frank Readick, Ray Collins, Agnes Moorehead, and Everett Sloane, many of whom would perform for The Mercury Theatre on the Air. Martin Gabel ( June 19, 1912 &ndash May 22, 1986) was an American Actor, Film director and Film producer. Ray Bidwell Collins ( December 10, 1889 – July 11, 1965)was an American actor in Film, stage, Radio Agnes Robertson Moorehead ( December 6 1900 – April 30 1974) was an American Actress. Everett Sloane (October 1 &ndashAugust 6) was an American stage film and television actor Songwriter, and Theatre director. Mercury Theatre was a Theatre company founded in New York City by Orson Welles and John Houseman.

A versus fighting game, Arm Joe, was made in 1998 by a Japanese game developer known as Takase. A fighting game (also referred as a versus fighting game, competitive fighting game, tournament fighting game or head-to-head fighting game) Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) The name is pronounced Āmu Jō, which is a pun on the title of Les Misérables in Japanese ("Ā, Mujō," meaning "Oh, Cruelty"). The game incorporates the major characters as they appear in the musical, namely Jean Valjean, Enjolras, Marius, Cosette, Éponine, Thénardier, and Javert—as well as a policeman, a robotic clone called Robojean, an embodiment of Judgement, and a stuffed rabbit. [5]

In 2001, BBC Radio 4 produced a 25-part radio dramatisation, with a cast of 27 featuring Joss Ackland narrating, Roger Allam as Valjean, and David Schofield as Javert. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Sidney Edmond Jocelyn Ackland CBE (born February 29 1928) known as Joss Ackland, is an English Actor who has appeared Roger Allam (born 26 October 1953) is an English Actor, known primarily for his Stage career although he has performed in David Schofield (born 1951) is an English actor Schofield was one of ten children in a working-class family (Allam also originated the role of Javert in the English language version of the Boublil/Schönberg musical. )

In 2001, Canossa College put on the first High School production of Les Misérables. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar.

In May 2001, François Cérésa published Cosette, or the Time of Illusions, a sequel to Les Misérables. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Victor Hugo's descendants attempted to have the book banned, condemning it as a money-seeking enterprise and an attack on Hugo's work (more subjective offences aside, it is undeniable that Cérésa retconned a key scene in Hugo's novel to avoid the death of a character he wanted to use in his novel). Retroactive continuity is the deliberate changing of previously established facts in a work of serial fiction Victor Hugo's heirs and the Société des gens de lettres lost the first trial [6] but won on appeal [7].

The plotline of Terry Pratchett's 28th Discworld novel, Night Watch, is inspired by uprisings such as the one in Les Misérables and includes a police officer hunting down a criminal who claims his only crime is to have stolen a loaf of bread. Terence David John Pratchett, OBE (born 28 April 1948 is an English fantasy, Science fiction, and children's author. Discworld is a comedic Fantasy Book series by the British author Terry Pratchett, set on the Discworld, a flat Also, within an earlier novel, Maskerade, the protagonist writes a musical named Miserable Les. Maskerade is the eighteenth novel in the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett.

A Les Misérables adventure game [8] is due for release Christmas 2007.

In January 2007, Nippon Animation released a Les Misérables anime series (consisting of 52 episodes) under the title Les Misérables: Shōjo Cosette, airing Mondays at 7:30. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Nippon Animation (日本アニメーション is a Japanese animation studio (anime in Japanese, is a Japanese Anime series by Nippon Animation, as the latest installment to the famed World Masterpiece Theater series [9]

A North Korean animated series, of about 26 episodes, was made in the 1990s. It was faithful to the novel in the main narrative sense, though at times the story strays to dark and more adult oriented themes. The series focused more on Cosette than many other adaptations. SEK Studio produced it. [10]

Cultural references

24601

Popular myth states 24601, Valjean's convict number, was chosen by Hugo because it was the date that he was conceived (24th of June, 1801). It is only known that he was born on Feb 26, 1802, approximately 8 months later. Many characters in contemporary culture have the prisoner number 24601 as a homage to the original novel, most notably Sideshow Bob and Seymour Skinner from The Simpsons, Eric Cartman from South Park, Oscar Bluth from Arrested Development, Hank Jennings from "Twin Peaks", the player character from the computer game System Shock, and even Ms. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus. Robert Underdunk Terwilliger, better known by his stage name Sideshow Bob, is a recurring character in the animated television series The Simpsons Principal Seymour Skinner (born in Capitol City as Armin Tamzarian) is a Fictional character on the animated sitcom The Simpsons Eric Theodore Cartman,commonly referred to by his Family name, Cartman, is one of the four main Fictional characters in the animated series South Park is an animated American television comedy series created and written by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for Comedy Central This is a list of the main characters from the Fox television Comedy series Arrested Development. Arrested Development is a character-driven American television Sitcom about a formerly wealthy habitually Dysfunctional family. Hank Jennings was a character on the ABC series Twin Peaks. He is the criminal (and during the first few episodes imprisoned husband of Norma Jennings. Twin Peaks is a Television Serial drama that follows the investigation of the brutal murder of popular respected Teenager and homecoming queen System Shock is an Action role-playing game developed by Looking Glass Technologies and published by Origin Systems. The Magic School Bus is a series of Children's books, intended to teach scientific concepts to children The Magic School Bus is a series of Children's books, intended to teach scientific concepts to children Strangely enough, this number is known much better than Valjean's second prison number, 9430 (most likely chosen because of the death of Hugo's daughter in September 1843), even though the second number is mentioned four times in the book, the first only twice. Presumably this is due to the fact that the second number is never mentioned in the popular musical, while the first is mentioned several times. In fact, Javert only refers to Valjean by that number.

References to the musical

The musical adaptation has also made a lasting impact on popular culture because of its immense popularity. Les Misérables the musical is the third longest running show in Broadway history. ^[8] Episodes from the television shows South Park, Family Guy, Scrubs, Animaniacs, Saturday Night Live and Seinfeld have all parodied the musical. South Park is an animated American television comedy series created and written by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for Comedy Central Family Guy is an animated American television sitcom created by Seth MacFarlane that airs on Fox and regularly on other " My Musical " is a musical episode of the five-time Emmy -nominated American Situation comedy Scrubs. Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs, usually referred to as Animaniacs, is an American animated series, distributed by Warner Bros Saturday Night Live ( SNL) is a weekly late-night 90-minute American Sketch comedy / Variety show based in New York City Seinfeld is an American Situation comedy, or sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5 1989 to May 14 1998 lasting nine seasons

Other

• During the American Civil War, many Confederate soldiers carried the book with them to read. Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South The War Department was established by the Confederate Congress in an act on February 21, 1861. Many referred to the book, and themselves, as "Lee's Miserables", a reference to General Robert E. Lee. Robert Edward Lee (January 19 1807 &ndash October 12 1870 was a career United States Army officer, an Engineer, and among the most celebrated ^[9][10]
• The Australian alt-rock band TISM has a member called Les Miserables. TISM (an Acronym of This Is Serious Mum) is a seven piece anonymous Alternative rock band from Melbourne, Australia 'Les' is pronounced as though his first name is 'Leslie'.
• The Californian band Ozma has a song titled "Eponine" that appears in two of their albums: Spending Time on the Borderline and Pasadena. Ozma is a Rock band from Pasadena California. The band's sound is a mix of new-wave –influenced Power pop and rock with Casiotone
• In the novel American Psycho, the characters make frequent references to Les Misérables. American Psycho is a Thriller novel by Bret Easton Ellis published in 1991
• At one time, the letters between Victor Hugo and the British publisher Hurst and Blackett held a world record for the shortest correspondence. Hugo was on vacation and was wondering how his book was selling in Britain; in his letter to the publisher he wrote "?" and received "!" as a response. ^[11]
• In the television series Star Trek: Voyager, Chakotay's Maquis raider ship is named the Valjean, in reference to the protagonist of the novel. Chakotay, played by Robert Beltran, is a character in Star Trek Voyager.

References

External links

• French text of Les Misérables
• Les Misérables, available at Project Gutenberg. Project Gutenberg, abbreviated as PG, is a volunteer effort to Digitize, archive and distribute Cultural works – English translation. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States
• Les Misérables according to a Bonapartist
• Reflections on Les Misérables – discussion of characters and themes.
• Different versions of Les Misérables in the IMDb
• Six other plays based on Les Misérables.
• Les Misérables - Shoujo Cossette - The Official Anime Site
• Les Misérables - Shoujo Cosette (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia