Kuvshinikov 1

Nikolai Kuvshinikov
Mrs. Trantham
Literature 2nd
27 February 2015
Book Review: Les Miserables Volume One-Book 1-2
In Victor Hugos classic Les Miserables, the tragic tales of five Frenchmen are

told. In Les Miserables: Volume One, the story of Fantine, a single mother who

desperately sells herself into prostitution for her daughters life, is revealed to the reader

as a life of misery and hardship. In Books One and Two of Les Miserables: Volume

One, the reader is introduced to two vital characters: Bishop M.Myriel, Bishop of Digne,

and also Jean Valjean, a convict on parole. Throughout the entire two books, Victor

Hugo captures the reader with extraordinary meticulous writing of the two protagonists,

and displays the shocking difference between the effects of change: both positive and

negative.
Victor Hugo is remembered for this one fact, if not others: his style of writing.

Throughout both books, the reader finds themselves drawn into Hugos artful and

tasteful descriptions of all the reader encounters; whether it be a simple picture of a

candlestick, or even a broad image of one of the characters. Hugos writing streams

like flowing water. The structure of words in these books is one of the many qualities

that make these books so appealing to read. Consider this excerpt: M. Myriel had to

undergo the fate of every newcomer in a little town, where there are many mouths

which talk, and very few heads which think. He was obliged to undergo it although he

was a bishop, and because he was a bishop. But after all, the rumors with which his

name was connected were rumors only,--noise, sayings, words; less than words--

palabres, as the energetic language of the South expresses it (Hugo n.p.). As seen by

this quote, Hugo knows precisely how to turn a what could be very simplistic sentence
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into a impressive description. Hugo could have just stated that M. Myriel knew all in the

town, but, being the genius that he is, Hugo transformed a dull grey sentence into a new

scene of detail; full of life and color. Hugo articulates all that he writes so beautifully;

and that is what makes this work of literature unlike any other plain book. Hugo forces

his reader to really listen to what they are reading; not merely read what they are

reading. Hugos writing is like a song when fully understood. These gems, or more like

lyrics, are found throughout his books in almost every paragraph.

Another aspect of these two books in the plain and obvious point that Hugo is

pushing; the effects of change. Consider another excerpt: "The bishop approached him

and said, in a low voice, 'Do not forget, ever, that you have promised me to use this

silver to become an honest man.' Jean Valjean, who had no recollection of any such

promise, stood dumbfounded. The bishop had stressed these words as he spoke them.

He continued solemnly, 'Jean Valjean, my brother, you no longer belong to evil, but to

good. It is your soul I am buying for you. I withdraw it from dark thoughts and from the

spirit of perdition, and I give it to God! (Hugo n.p.)" This excerpt very clearly

demonstrates exactly what Hugo is teaching. Personal change is shown in the first few

chapters of Les Misrables, as Hugo uses Myriel and Valjean to demonstrate that

change is a part of human nature. Hugo uses Myriel to show the positive effects of

change. Myriel leaves for Italy as a spoiled aristocrat but returns as a clergyman who

lives in simple piety! He is no longer preoccupied with material pleasures, and his new

interest in the welfare of others makes him as happy as it makes those who receive his

care. In contrast, Hugo uses Valjean to make the point that preventing people from

developing for the better can destroy them. Valjean does not come into the town as a

thief, but his yellow passport immediately brands him as an undesirable character.
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Consequently, the townspeople are openly hostile toward him and refuse to believe that

he is capable of anything other than theft. In fact, Valjean did not need to steal Myriels

silver, but he does so largely because the town expects such criminality of him. Hugo

makes the contrast between Myriel and Valjean clear through visual imagery, referring

to the men in terms of light and dark. Myriel, who trusts in and hopes for other people,

operates in light, whereas the Valjean operates in darkness. The tension between light

and dark reaches a peak when Valjean stops to look at Myriel before stealing his silver.

As Valjean plans his theft, the clouds darken the sky; he then sees Myriels face in a

beam of moonlight. Finally, we see Valjean standing in the shadows while he breaks

into the cabinet of silver. As Valjean contemplates stealing the silver, the sky is dark, as

if it were frowning upon the crime he is about to commit. Once Valjean approaches

Myriel, however, everything becomes light, as if Myriel were radiating purity. Hugo is

able to pass judgment on his characters and their actions without ever breaking the

narrative voice, and this is truly a remarkable feat for any author to do that!
Now the final question remains. Was this a good read? Was it

captivating? These books left me completely speechless, and it is quite rare for a book

to be able to achieve that. From page one to the end, it felt as if the pages were

grasping onto me; as if they needed to be admired. Hugo pulled me into his literary

world. The reading, while challenging, was as stated before, like music to my ears.

These books had everything I like in a good book; a solid plot, good characters, and it

had structure. Everything felt just right, as if I were simply writing it myself. The words

Hugo uses hypnotize you into a trance; they are absorbed and never forgotten. I also

was astonished by Hugos ability to write with such complexity. While the books were

already complex enough, Hugo used many different techniques such as imagery,
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allusion, and loads of foreshadowing. Hugo also has many deeper tones to these

books than meets the eye. While I was reading, I always felt as if there were deeper

and more complex meaning to everything I read. It felt like thunder, rolling in the

distance. You can hear it, but you cant quite grasp it yet. Hugo also painted each

character with more than just one color. All characters were dynamic and described

with such poetry, and even though I read such a small amount on Les Miserables so far,

I feel like I really do understand all characters mentioned in these two books. Hugos

vivid and exciting word plays made this book so much more than simply a book. It was

like a priceless piece of art. Everything Victor Hugo wrote had life in it. From his

intricate images of words to his outstanding ability to demonstrate morals so subtly; all

had a spark to it. These books will forever and always remain on my book shelf. I must

recommend this book to all who seek more than a simple read. This book has some of

the finest writing ever written by man, and it would be a shame for anybody to turn their

face to this book. Is it an easy read? No. It is very complex with weaving sentences,

tied up in a big knot! But, once you have finished these works, the beauty flowing from

them will remain with you for now and years to come, portraying in your mind the picture

of a true masterpiece.

Works Cited
Hugo, Victor. Les Miserables. Trans. Charles E. Wilbour. New York: Random House

Modern Library, 1992.