Thank you so much for the tips! I am 66 years old, and this is my first reading. Several years ago, I had befriended a young woman who pressed me to read what was her favorite novel. Her encouragements have haunted me and this January I finally gave in. I am half-way through and am struggling. The tips you have shared will hopefully assist me in pressing on. I do not want to give up on this great book which has such great application for the times we live in.

This book is absolutely epic! Please for the love of God do not skip the history parts, they make the book awesome!

I love Les Mis. One of my favorite books ever. Beautiful characters and a ton of action. A lot of people say you can skip the digressions on sewer, nuns, etc. but I can't imagine the book without em

I read it for the first time 6 months ago. I still think about it, almost everyday I have a little thought about it. I keep thinking "why did I love it so much?" And the main answer I gave myself is that being good and kind can change destinies, and this also can have a domino effect. What I mean is that Myrel was kind to Jean Valjean and changed his life, then he changed Cosette's life and she met Marius and made his life better in a time when he didn't really have a purpose in life. This book has my heart and will always have. It's not even a year since I first started Les Miserables and I already want to read it again. Sorry for my mistakes. English is not my native language 😊

To my mind, agreeing with all said here, the book is also about Paris. Being an architect and town planner, there are insights of Hugo of how cities develop and change. In fact he says so about himself, in the book. Hugo was also a great graphic artist, mostly somewhat surrealist, lots to do with paysage and buildings. He invented some quarters of Paris in especially round the Picpus quarter' but based on old maps. nahoum cohen tel aviv

I also agree, I think Hugo would approve of the modern film musical adaptation as well. I think it stuck to the heart of the book quite well. Hugo was no stranger to adaptations of his work so I don't think he'd be upset over all the different adaptations. Probably would have liked the French film from the 1930s as well.

My Favorite book! Reread is a must! One can smell the sewer, feel the anguish of the people, and the need for hope. LOVE THIS BOOK! Also, love the stage version, even if it takes liberties.

Nearly halfway through and using a spreadsheet with goals of what page I should be up to in my three month journey. At the end of the day I put what page I am up to and write comments on what has been read, so far I am over 200 pages ahead!!! Having seen the musical and watched the film I cannot believe how much more is in the book that fills in the gaps. Nearly halfway through and finding it totally absorbing.

I am currently reading it now! Only less than a hundred page to Cosette though been reading for a month. Hugo's prose and the way he described human emotions is incomparable and rich that sometimes I feel like he could stare at my soul haha. Splendid guide, by the way! I entirely agree that readers need at least a little bit of historical context here in order to fully appreciate the book. Also, I never thought of historical fictions as “personalized history” until you mentioned it. Probably because most historical fictions I read only take several facts like dates, places, and the norms and customs around the time, throw some storylines then label them as such (although I still enjoy them nonetheless).

I'm not a huge fan of Hugo's work (couldn't finish The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Man who laughs almost bored me to death) but Les Misérables is a masterpiece. Pages flied when I read it. I'm French and it helps because I understood the context (Napoleon, 1832's riots, etc) and I didn't read a translation. Sometimes, Hugo's writing style seems a bit pompous, there are a lot of digressions but the characters are so well written (love Marius' friends Enjolras and Courfeyrac, even if they're not main characters) It is very interesting to listen to your opinion and your insights on this book (gave me a different perspective on it)

I have just discovered your channel, and I am thrilled! I have had Les Miserables on my nightstand for three years and began it in January, setting a goal to read each day for 20 minutes, so your video is so wonderful for me. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

You talked about digressions, I think they're great. I can imagine how spectacular of a novel Persuasion would be if it was full of even more digressions, but then it would lose all its charm, no ? Yeah, but the French writers are masters of that kind of thing, especially when they give you an image of what French Aristocratic salons were like, I'm particularly thinking of Flaubert, I imagine Proust does that as well.

I am currently reading the abridged version with the gold edges, it really is a fabulous read, the situations in the book is all so real! Love it!

Thanks for a very good video. Years ago, I saw a French movie version of the book, with Jean Paul Belmondo as JVJ, and was hooked by the story. This film is well worth checking out if you can. It led me to then read the novel, which has become an all time favourite book.

Just started this at the weekend and boy is it fab! I’m at the bit where Hugo goes on a bit about convents and monasteries! But so glad I found your channel and decided to get back into classics (haven’t read a classic since I did my A level about 10 years ago)

Great video, Ben. Thank you for the helpful tips, I’m excited for this deep read with the group. Your passion for it is infectious!

I read this book 3 times before I was 18, and now, 35, I’m really looking forward to a deep reread to see how much I’ve grown. No doubt much of it was lost on me when I first read it, but still, this will certainly be a journey back into my past for me.

I’ve never enjoyed being overwhelmingly devastated more than reading Les Miserables. I simply adore it.

I read this over 2 months at about 30 pages a day with a reading plan. It worked really well for me. I loved it…5⭐️ for me. I learned it wasn’t about the French Revolution but about this smaller uprising years later.

A good friend of mine recommended me your channel and wow! I can’t help watching each one of your videos. Thank you, first of all, for doing great content and secondly, as a non-native speaker, I’m able to improve my listening skills and, at the same time, I learn new things about literature, my main cup of tea. Thanks again and best wishes from Mexico!

Finally finished the book. Its definitely a good read. Just like other Hugo's books. I would only recommend everyone one thing: do not watch any adaptation before finishing the book. I mean, are there really people who do that? If you are prone to do so, please don't 😅

Great advice. I say that as I have done and am doing two very important things which you mention. Firstly, I have just finished studying for reasons of personal improvement the revolutions in France from 1789 to 1871. It was the enjoyment of this that led me to pick up Les Miserables which has been sitting on my book shelf, unread, for 30 years. Secondly, I'm reading one or two chapters a night. Sometimes it's difficult to put the book down as I want to find out what happens next. As you say, the relatively short sections are really convenient for lingering with the book and for slow readers, like myself. You are right about the characters. I'm only just over 100 pages in and so I haven't seen too many characters yet. However, why doesn't anyone mention Monseigneur Myriel. He's fantastic. I love the character. Unfortunately, I get the impression that we are just about to leave him. If that is the case, I will miss him.

the first time i read les miserables was when i was 16, and it took me 18 days unabridged. my favorite novel ever

Benjamin, with your encouragement and guidance, my very elderly mother and I are "breaching" this masterpiece together. We're engaging deep reading (your guidance again) and joining in this massive project, and we're excited! Having just started the process, I'm realizing how much strength is required: both mental and physical. This book is weighty in every way! Thank you for giving us the courage. . .

"Tomorrow, At Dawn" by Victor Marie Hugo Tomorrow, at dawn, at the hour when the countryside whitens, I will set out. You see, I know that you wait for me. I will go by the forest, I will go by the mountain. I can no longer remain far from you. I will walk with my eyes fixed on my thoughts, Seeing nothing of outdoors, hearing no noise Alone, unknown, my back curved, my hands crossed, Sorrowed, and the day for me will be as the night. I will not look at the gold of evening which falls, Nor the distant sails going down towards Harfleur, And when I arrive, I will place on your tomb A bouquet of green holly and of flowering heather.

Moby Dick is the most satisfying classic novel I've ever read. It took me multiple tries but once I was aware of Melvilles intentions, I was hooked. Same with Les Miserables except it is much longer with simpler prose.

Brilliant video! Your words make me want to read Les Mis for the first time more than ever! Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

Ben, firstly, I am looking forward to join the club for this great read. I gave myself a head start and I'm almost half way through, having however reread some parts, including how the Waterloo diversion ends which deeply touched my heart as it is a poetic description yes of a battle, but could be extended to life in general. You know how you came up with "empathy" as the word to describe the essence of AK? I have decided that LM is about becoming (of course many others themes run through it). Becoming is at its core imo, on a Macro (F. R-evolution-) and micro (personal evolution). See you in the club, soon!

Great channel, very encouraging/fantastic tips! I'm currently reading LM (Christine Donougher translation) and it's exciting to be doing so! I won't be reading the novel fast and hopefully will be a successful reading/learning journey.😊

What a beautiful video! I'm going to be replaying it many times in the future!

I had to start with a dictionary next to me that graduated to me using Siri 😂 turned into a proper education of the English and French language! I love history but the word choices and language barrier is where my struggle sprouted and bloomed from lol prior to this book I understood I was pretty decent with one of these languages and words even. I quickly learned that was false hahaha a teaching moment. Love it

Skip the Waterloo part? b-b-but that's the best bit imho. At least, that's how I thought when I first read Les Mis. I'm very keen on reading historical fiction and was a major Napoleon buff for a while so when I got to that part it was like I was in heaven. Loved that part. Sadly, the more buffer I got on my Napy history, the less accurate the Hugo's Waterloo bit got, so far as the only thing he got right in the end was that it was an English victory. Love your videos - cheers!

I first started reading Les Miserable in Maltese over 45 years ago, then read it again in 1998. now I am reading it both in French and in English . when i finish each chapter i read it again in French. When I find a chapter full of beautiful and interesting descriptions such as 'La CADENE' , 'FOLIIS AC FRONDIBUS', 'CE QU'ON RENCONTRE EN VENANT DE NIVELLES' , 'UNE MERE QUI EN RENCONTRE UNE AUTRE', I copy the text and highlight the key words and read it many times. now i have read about 70% of each of the french and english translations, hopefully to finish it before summer.

Going to attempt the brick during my summer break. I'm looking forward to it!

I really enjoyed your talk and your enthusiasm for Les Misérables. I'm planning to start reading it this year. I'm also planning to read Swann's Way. Would you recommend a history book that would be helpful as background reading for both.

I am a year late to the video but thank you so much for the tips they are extremely helpful and have coincided with what I’ve learned through the first volume Fantine. I am very much in love with the book at this point and would take your advice and slowly appreciate ‘the Brick’😊

Thank you so much! I don't suppose there is a study guide you'd recommend to help one navigate Les Mis? I've only read the abridged version.

I read Les Miserables in my mid twenties. I knew all the characters because I had watched the show. The book was very rich in detail and you need to know your history. I need to read it again though because I think it will impact differently now I'm a bit older

1) watch the musical 2) get attached to the characters A Normal Amount 3) start having a weird parasocial relationship with a guy thats been dead for 200 years but you still talk to the book as if the dude can hear u. in all seriousness, though, took me 2 years to read the whole thing, I'd highly recommend an e-reader. And I still remember sentences, lines, descriptions, Opinions™️. Love it. Thank you for this video.

Ah, Ben, ‘Les Miserables’ is my favourite novel and I can’t wait for this deep read. I’ve spent the last two months or so getting through some of the longer texts on my degree reading list. Therefore it will be lovely to have Hugo’s classic occupy my more leisurely reading space in term 1. During my first read, about 5 years ago, my political leanings/beliefs had become quite selfish. The novel certainly highlighted to me the importance of giving back and having empathy and understanding to those around me. It was also a time where I had been out of education due to depression. Reading the novel during this dark period and through my recovery certainly benefited me. Valjean’s own journey from almost nothing and Hugo’s great voice spoke to me a lot. The passage on the man being lost at sea is something I have re read by itself many times. On the digressions, they are a pain on your first read, however, afterwards you will value them because they are the core of Hugo’s moral argument. Hugo wanted to show the theme of injustice in as many way as possible. It sometimes read like the works of someone who has no respect for his audience etc. I particularly like Denny’s quote, “Hugo had little or no regard for the discipline of novel-writing.”. I love the musical and enjoyed the BBC mini series, although, that story is just a part of Hugo’s ‘Les Miserables’. The Bishop, Waterloo, the sewer systems etc are the rest. It is one. I hope one day to be able to read it in its native language. I love ‘Notre Dame de Paris’ also. Side note: I can see Graham Robb’s Hugo biography on your shelf, is it worth the read alongside Les Mis? I own a copy but like so many other books, it has done nothing more than collect dust. - James

Greetings, Ben (a fellow Benjamin here)! I've owned copies of the novel for decades now (but have not read them), having grown up with a mother who would listen to the albums of the London cast recording of the musical since the mid-80s and thereby garnering a fascination (crush?) with Eponine. After re-watching the Jackman/Crowe movie recently, followed by the excellent PBS series, I picked up my clothbound Penguin Denny just yesterday to begin reading 4 chapters per day. And then I stumbled across your videos, sir. You say Hugo gifted us with 365 chapters. My question, then (since you are wielding the Denny), is: does the 365 include the two books Denny has moved to the end as appendices, or just Denny's ideal/presented canon? Anyway, I'm looking forward to this literary journey, as well as to more videos from you.

I stumbled across this post as I’m finishing my fourth reading. I thought it was originally serialized in periodicals before full publication. His digressions I read as articles interspersed in the narrative.

I just started reading this... Thank you really for this video ❤️

I am looking forward to reading the Waterloo section (perhaps more than any other part of the book). It will be my first reading (other than a stab at it a decade or two ago, where I read maybe 25-50 pages). I want to read it in comparison to Dumas's "Count of Monte Christo."

Do you have any idea about which books you will be discussing next year? Would love to add it to my schedule to work through book with a group and yourself

There's another film adaptation of Les Miserables staring Liam Neison as Jean Val Jean and Jeffrey Rush as Javert. I wholly love that movie! Hope you can find and see this adaptation.

I was at Barnes and Noble and the descriptive details were so rich it's actually what did it for me...didn't care of the story but when the guy is pushing on the rusty hinges I was honestly right there with the suspense:)

Can you do this "How to read" for 'Wilkie Collins' The Woman in White' pls ?

Read this one multiple times. The saddest part is where Cosette uses a broken sword for a doll.

Reading enhances the lived experience, enriches the living experience and nourishes the sapience landscape for the future.

It sounds like a wonderful book to be read alongside the Proust. I hope I’ll be able to follow your breathtaking pace without quitting my day job. If not, I’m already forgiving myself today in advance.

I like what you're putting down, Benjamin. Sign me up.

thank you! i just bought the book and i'm quite intimdated by it xD

Hey, have you read Descartes? Would love a video on his philosophy

I’ve picked this for the Waterloo section, as well as the spiritual content!

I bought the penguin deluxe edition and i want to read it in 2024...the one book I've thought about very often and idk why I'm not reading it again is the count of monte cristo

69 years. First time. About to buy and listen to audio. How does that experience compare to reading? Do that in parallel?

What about the brilliant visual artist of that time DAUMIER? I believe that he should be ranked on the level of a Davinci. His satiric lithographs are fascinating, and his paintings are beautiful. He is not sufficiently recognized for the satiric depictions of socials problems. Some of those monochrome paintings are not equaled by any other painter in HX. What do you think?

I took about a year to read Les Misérables, in chunks. Whenever I needed a break, I would read another book or two, then come back to it. Now a couple of years have gone by, I need to re-read. I read The Count of Monte Cristo a year earlier, but read in non-stop in a month.

I'm in the love category, but I seldom reread. I read an abridged version in French for French III, but later read the big version in English. French Revolution and Napoleon were concentrations as a history major. I had a friend visiting for a weekend and asked me why I had Napoleon all over my house, in my best Southern accent I said, "because he is my cousin," I waited a beat and said, "he's your cousin too." The word oeuvre makes me smile. Thanks for the fine video.

When I was 16 years old i was walking to my favorite thrift shop when I found a quarter on the ground. At the thrift shop I found the complete unabridged version of Les Mis; they wanted 50 cents for it. But it was also half off day, so i used the quarter to buy it. I read a little over 1000 of the 1400 pages before giving up. It sits on my shelf still, haunting me with the same scrap of high school english homework holding it on page 1067. I would have to start over if I wanted to finish it. Super frustrating to read over 1000 pages of something and give up. Truly my white whale, also the hardest book I ever tried to read.

If I was to read one chapter a day, is it something I can maintain absorption with if I'm reading other books concurrently?

Hullo Ben I was wondering where do think Gavroche and Eponine learnt kindness and a sense of conscience? I like those two. PS my mum wants me to ask what the name of a companion book that explaines the ambiguity of a novel such as animal farm or the Arabian nights. Peace Lara

This is such a sad sad book! What makes it so hard to read are the tears gushing out while reading about the struggles of Valjean and Cosette.😭

I ve been reading it since over a year now😂and have reached half of it... But i love reading books over a long period of time as i develop attachment this way to the book and it remains in my memory for longer

I have a different take on the novel. I don't see in Les Miserables social progress but rather a loop of the social dance in which each character is fated in his human condition to try and fail to escape misery either by utopian evasion or by strict order. Aside the obvious miserables the book extends itself to the non obvious miserables and in my take of the masterpiece Javert is the black mirror of Jean Valjeant. The death of Javert redeems him for being self consistent in is failure to grasp nuance, and the escapist utopia of Jean Valjent condemns him to another kind of misery, hope!

What are ur thoughts on middle March by George eliot

Gracias!

I know the book in many translations, the best one ever is the Bulgarian one (great translators, thousands of notes). Strangely enough there is not a good Hebrew one.

I have read it twice and I have then read the abridged version, and I have taught it a few times in my classes. I disagree with you about the sentiment point you made. It’s the people and it’s their story and it’s the compassion from the writer that makes this book so worthy of a person’s time.

Can I please find a copy of this book..I can't find this book in Sri Lanka

Starting my first re-read after reading for the first time a few years ago. One thing I did feel the first time was the history. It is a book looking back at a revolution years before its publication, itself hundreds of years ago. You are reading history about history and it is not a modern view point, but echos many modern views). You almost should struggle reading the language it is written in, even when translated to english, because it is not meant to be modern.

Me devouring les misérables when he said to read it slowly,

My sister is reading this now and keeps wanting me to read it, (and War and Peace).

I'm going to have to check out Clarissa never heard of it

Woops I did it again - just orderd another clothbound classic (Les Miserables) and I haven't finished Bram Stoker's Dracula and only just started The Count of Monte Cristo. Gonna be in trouble with my wife again tonight - eeeek !!!

i tried reading this book a few minutes ago. i made it to chapter 3 and threw it across the room. came here to see what people had to say about it.

I'm struggling with big books now. I see these masterpiece novels and want to dive in but can't take that leap.

With adhd I'm scared of reading because I can get lost with so many characters, names ... Same with films . How ever I'm working on it . Thank you

When a book is that great, it's never long enough.

I skipped many parts of the book because they were too hard (like about Waterloo) or read them without trying to understand the stuff that didn't come naturally. Didn't feel like a cheat either.

PS I was sad when Javeret. Made his decision regarding his internal conflict. Though I slightly see his point I like him.

My choice for all time greatest novel of all time greatest novels of greatest great great novels ever

Already read it and enjoyed it immensely (but the things Fantine goes through like having her teeth removed -- Jesus H. Christ). The only negative I have regarding the novel is that I remember lengthy passages related to battlefields aftermaths that slowed the main narrative).

I tried skipping Le Petit Picpus, and it didn't go well i had to go back. I read don quijote, and i founded a waste of my time; it was like giving spam on white bread to a person with chronic anemia.

THANK YOU for saying it’s not about the Revolution lmao so many people get it wrong

Colm Wilkinson embodied Jean Valjean.