Les Misérables : A Brief Review + Quotes

Ιουνίου 13, 2020

Les Misérables by Victor Hugo (Historical Fiction, 1862)

my rating - 5/5

Les Misérables is a historical fiction book written by Victor Hugo. It is often considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century.

The novel is set in mid-19th century France. It follows the main character, Jean Valjean, who struggles to live a normal life after serving a prison sentence for stealing a loaf of bread during an economic depression. He scorns society, politicians and royals but most of all, he doesn't trust people.

This story is incredible and shocking. Through Hugo's descriptions of society and people, it seems like our world is the same, even now, two centuries later. It is equally impressive as it is terrifying. It made me think about how unfair life can be and how a simple gesture can completely change a person. The author also deals with how important education is and how it can prevent from the majority of terrible things that happen every day in the world.

It is a legendary book that really deserves to be called the greatest novel of the 19th century.

*QUOTES* - my copy of the book is full with annotations, I'll try and narrow it down a bit but I can't promise anything 😕

"A garden to walk in and immensity to dream in -- what more could he ask? A few flowers at his feet and above him the stars."
"He was fond of books, for they are cool and sure friends."
"Before him he saw two roads, both equally straight; but he did see two; and that terrified him - he who had never in his life known anything but one straight line. And, bitter anguish, these two roads were contradictory."
"If the soul is left in darkness, sins will be committed. The guilty one is not the one who commits the sin, but the one who causes the darkness."
"Nobody loves the light like the blind man."
"I'd like a drink. I desire to forget life. Life is a hideous invention by somebody I don't know. It doesn't last, and it's good for nothing. You break your neck simply living."
"As with stomachs, we should pity minds that do not eat."
"And must I now begin to doubt - who never doubted all these years? My heart is stone, and still it trembles. The world I have known is lost in the shadows. Is he from heaven or from hell? And does he know, that granting me my life today, this man has killed me, even so." - Javert
"...there is a point when the unfortunate and the infamous are associated and confused in a word, a mortal word, les miserables."
"It is nothing to die. It is frightful not to live."
"You look at a star for two reasons, because it is luminous, and because it is impenetrable. You have beside you a sweeter radiance and a greater mystery, woman."
"Let us never fear robbers or murderers. They are dangers from without, petty dangers. Let us fear ourselves. Prejudices are the real robbers; vices are the real murderers. The great dangers lie within ourselves. What matters it if something threatens are head or our purse! Let us think only of that which threatens the soul."
"You are never fully dressed until you put on a smile!"