Post by Emily Stokes, 5th hour on Sept 22, 2013 20:32:50 GMT -5
I’m sure you’ve heard about Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables by now, right? I mean, it’s one of the greatest novels of all time, one of the most popular Broadway musicals to date, and the story even made it to the big screen just last year! Personally, I adore Les Mis, and I hope upon reading my French project, you’ll gain a new appreciation for the true masterpiece that is Les Misérables.
Victor Hugo
Victor Hugo, the author of Les Misérables (as well as The Hunchback of Notre-Dame), was born in Besançon, France in 1802. From an early age, Hugo knew he was destined to be a writer. The link above will provide you with tons of information about this amazing author, including everything from how he was a leading figure of the French Romantic movement in the 1920s, all the way to his death in 1885.
1862 Novel
Regarded as one of the greatest novels of the 19th century, as well as of all time, Les Misérables begins in 1815 and climaxes during the 1832 June Rebellion in Paris. The novel follows the stories of many different characters, but focuses on the struggles of an ex-con named Jean Valjean. Valjean is released from prison after nineteen years for stealing a loaf of bread to save his sister’s starving child. At first, our protagonist hates the world around him, but as his journey continues, we see how a man once filled with hatred has an incredible turn-around in this story of redemption, God, and love.
Stage Adaption
Being one of my favorite musicals of all time, it was hard to choose just one link about the beautiful Les Mis stage adaption. However, I’ve chosen the 10th Anniversary version of the Act I finale, One Day More. Almost all of the central characters (including Jean Valjean, Javert, Cosette, Marius, Eponine, and Enjolras) are in this song, and it is arguably one of the most powerful songs in the musical.
2012 Movie
It’s incredible that 150 years later, Victor Hugo’s work of art is still booming with excitement. Just last year, a film adaption of Les Misérables was released. Although it received mixed reviews from Hollywood movie buffs and fans of the musical, the film received a whopping $400,000,000+ in the box office. Despite the fact that some of the actors were heavily criticized, I feel that the film captured the elements of the story that it needed to, while trying to please both movie lovers and theatre fans. One of my favorite portrayals was that of Anne Hathaway playing the lovely Fantine. Here is a clip of her singing one of the most popularized songs from the musical, “I Dreamed A Dream.”
Victor Hugo
Victor Hugo, the author of Les Misérables (as well as The Hunchback of Notre-Dame), was born in Besançon, France in 1802. From an early age, Hugo knew he was destined to be a writer. The link above will provide you with tons of information about this amazing author, including everything from how he was a leading figure of the French Romantic movement in the 1920s, all the way to his death in 1885.
1862 Novel
Regarded as one of the greatest novels of the 19th century, as well as of all time, Les Misérables begins in 1815 and climaxes during the 1832 June Rebellion in Paris. The novel follows the stories of many different characters, but focuses on the struggles of an ex-con named Jean Valjean. Valjean is released from prison after nineteen years for stealing a loaf of bread to save his sister’s starving child. At first, our protagonist hates the world around him, but as his journey continues, we see how a man once filled with hatred has an incredible turn-around in this story of redemption, God, and love.
Stage Adaption
Being one of my favorite musicals of all time, it was hard to choose just one link about the beautiful Les Mis stage adaption. However, I’ve chosen the 10th Anniversary version of the Act I finale, One Day More. Almost all of the central characters (including Jean Valjean, Javert, Cosette, Marius, Eponine, and Enjolras) are in this song, and it is arguably one of the most powerful songs in the musical.
2012 Movie
It’s incredible that 150 years later, Victor Hugo’s work of art is still booming with excitement. Just last year, a film adaption of Les Misérables was released. Although it received mixed reviews from Hollywood movie buffs and fans of the musical, the film received a whopping $400,000,000+ in the box office. Despite the fact that some of the actors were heavily criticized, I feel that the film captured the elements of the story that it needed to, while trying to please both movie lovers and theatre fans. One of my favorite portrayals was that of Anne Hathaway playing the lovely Fantine. Here is a clip of her singing one of the most popularized songs from the musical, “I Dreamed A Dream.”