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Les Miserables
Editor reviews
From the title announcement surrounded by thrilling music, you will be captured and held fast through this long, heartbreaking, beautiful audiobook. Prisoners, priests, prostitutes, revolutionaries, and romantics, from Jean Valjean to Javert, Bill Homewood is everyone at once. His ability to slip between characters at high speeds is astonishing. Women, men, children, old, and young, Homewood is utterly convincing. His accents and vocal rasps or purrs fit the period, the person, and the place. Homewood’s performance makes this story of inner goodness and heroism mesmerizing. Musical accompaniment at appropriate moments enhances the mood.
Summary
Les Miserables is set in Paris after the French Revolution. In the sewers and back streets we encounter "the wolf-like tread of crime," and assassination for a few sous is all in a day's work. We weep with the unlucky and heartbroken Fantine, and exult with the heroic revolutionaries of the barricades; but above all we thrill to the steadfast courage and nobility of soul of ex-convict Jean Valjean, always in danger from the relentless pursuit of the diabolical Inspector Javert.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.
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Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Ollie
- 01-05-19
Awesome!!!
It takes me back to my childhood listening to it on a winter's evening. Great memories
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Barak Zadok
- 29-08-10
Hugo's love still shines...
For such a short abridgment, this audio does well to deliver much of that which makes Les Miserable so great. To those who have read the unabridged version, it might seem a trifle elementary at times, especially in the beginning, but it should deliver on what brought you here and in style. I cannot speak to those with virgin ears, except to say that if you enjoy hyper-idealized characters as well as plots with masterful twists and a careful delivery, that, though blunted by it's length, this book might be of great interest to you.
Though this next note deals largely with own my personal taste I hope that you'll forgive me for making a plea to Audible, should anyone there review these reviews at times- I tell you that I would pay $200 for this narrator to cover Les Miserable in it's unabridged version. I understand that Frederick Davidson does what many consider to be a good job of it, but he's too polarizing a narrator along the lines of interest and boredom as well as approachability vs snobbishness to have divested your entire interest in such a classic.
Regardless, thank you. And I hope this has helped to guide the way for someone out there as I do not write reviews often. Happy listening:)
7 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
- Robert Solomon
- 29-05-05
MIssing the music
I am very familiar w/ the operetta. I like knowing more of the detail that the show does not go into. But knowing the pacing of the musical made this book too slow for me to finish.
If you are not familiar w/ the music, this book may be good for you.
3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Rosanna L. Gowan
- 02-03-15
Classic worth reading
Even though it was painful to hear of the suffering endured by the characters in the story, this novel was nourishment for my soul.
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- Jessica
- 22-06-13
Wrong language
This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?
Someone looking for the english translation
What other book might you compare Les Miserables to and why?
It's a fantastic classic, on par with Oliver Twist and Pride and Prejudice
Any additional comments?
When buying a book with a french title it should be more clear this is just a translation and not the original. Was very disappointed. I've read it and seen it in English and wanted to hear it the way it was written which is the only reason I decided to try audio books in the first place.
1 person found this helpful