Reviews - Les Misérables | The StoryGraph

4.13k reviews for:

Les Misérables

Victor Hugo

4.16 AVERAGE

emergencybutler's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional informative sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

krystanab108's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

cogumelos's review against another edition

3.5

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

wondrwhy's review against another edition

3.0

The story is good.. but it was so long and, at times, painfully boring.

daddymax77's review against another edition

3.0

OK, look...I know this is a classic and is worthy of that classification. 19th century opinions probably appreciated the meandering narrative and MULTIPLE diversions from the plot as welcome entertaining distractions. They definitely would have gotten their money's worth. I however, had to bear down and struggle through the asides to get back to the plot. Hugo could have used an editor for sure. This was a novel interjected with a French history textbook. There were MANY allusions to people/places/events that I'm sure meant something to 1860s France or scholars that were totally lost to me.

I do have a couple of questions for the more learned than myself: 1. What is the significance of addressing one as "you" vs. "thou"? 2. What was Hugo's obsession with the word "lugubrious"? Is it beautifully written or pronounced in the original language?