I think the thing i loved most about les miserables, apart from the fact that someone managed to make a musical out of it, is that hugo persistently does everything we were told not to do in creative writing class. When valjean breaks parole, javert relentlessly searches for the escapee. Set in the parisian underworld and plotted like a detective story, the work follows the fortunes of the convict jean valjean, a victim of society. Les miserables is rated pg by the mpaa for suggestive and sexual material, violence and thematic elements violence. She would read along with the songs in the cd insert and had a pretty good grasp of the story line before beginning to read the book. Victor hugos les miserables is such a popular and loved book that it has been adapted into plays and movies many times, most recently in 2012. If a writer wrote merely for his time, i would have to break my pen and throw it away, the largerthanlife victor hugo once confessed. I had previously seen the play and quite enjoyed it. Les miserables spends a lot of time moaning over the poorest and most downtrodden members of french society, but dont let the sentimentalism fool you. Before tackling les miserables, build your reading stamina with another book over 500 pages from this list entitled 50 mustread books of more than 500 pages. He went out by the little rue mondetour, creeping along by the houses. Tips for taking children to the theatre londons west end is a wellknown hotspot for parents seeking a perfect outing for the whole family.
Set preferences and get age appropriate recommendations with common sense media plus. The strange power of les mis, the book the new republic. I have read the house of night series which is pretty graphic, im sure youll agree if youve read the books. This film is set in france, and focuses on jean valjean, a convict who spent 19 years in prison, just for stealing a loaf of bread.
Jean valjean, after spending nineteen years in jail and in the galleys for stealing a loaf of bread and for several attempts to escape, is finally released, but his past keeps haunting him. Hugos hiding a sharp tongue beneath all the misery, and he uses it to attack the social power structures that make horrifying poverty possible in the first place. Cosette becomes known locally as the lark, because she is small and birdlike probably from malnutrition and always up in the morning before anyone else. Yes, it can be heavy weather in parts, but its worth the effort. The revolutionary ideals of the young men at the paris barricades, led by marius eddie redmayne highlight the dissatisfaction with frances return to a monarchical system. Charles francoisbienvenu myriel has been bishop of digne for nine years.
They wont like as much as lion king or matilda but its a great production for everyone. It was an instant popular success and was quickly translated into several languages. In the englishspeaking world, the novel is usually referred to by its original french title. See a complete list of the characters in les miserables and indepth analyses of jean valjean, cosette, javert, marius pontmercy, and fantine.
Some elementary school age kids might adore les miserables. These behaviors are divided into a number of development stages based upon the childs age. Indeed, this 19thcentury french authors books from the epic drama les miserables to the classic unrequited love story the hunchback of notre dame have spanned the ages, their themes of morality and redemption as applicable to our times as to his. I am coming with my family in may and i would love to take my daughter to see les mis she is a mature almost 11 year old but my husband has seen it before and isnt sure if suitable as it is quite dark can anyone offer their advice.
In addition to all the things mentioned above, theres a suicide too. Corpses are seen, along with numerous sick and impoverished people. The title says it all really, les miserables is touring this summer,i want to see it. Book summary jean valjean, after spending nineteen years in jail and in the galleys for stealing a loaf of bread and for several attempts to escape, is finally released, but his past keeps haunting him. The literal meaning of les miserables is the miserable ones. All persons regardless of age are required to have a ticket for family shows. Because of his past crimes, the inns refuse to serve him. I think anyone, any age could read and enjoy this book. My eight year old daughter wanted to read les miserables after listening to the musical for several years.
A les miserables reading list for all ages book riot. There are some slight literary flourishes, though they are inconsistently done. Yet it was tolstoy who vindicated the french novelists early ambition by judging les miserables one of the worlds great novels, if not the greates, and acknowledged its effect on his own work. To ensure the enjoyment of all patrons, children under the age of six are not permitted to attend performances unless it is designated as a family show. Jean valjean, a man who has spent 19 tortuous years in prison, in released on parole by the acclaimed officer, javert.
Les miserables, novel by victor hugo, published in french in 1862. Age appropriateness or childfriendly is the progression of behavioral norms largely agreed upon within a society or among sociological and psychological authorities to be appropriate to a childs development of social skills. Eventually, fantine has trouble coming up with the money, so the thenardiers put cosette to work with totally age appropriate tasks like scrubbing the tavern floors at the age of five. Those with tickets for canceled or postponed performances should contact their point of purchase for information.
He published his first book of poetry when he was only twenty and later wrote several successful plays and novels, including the hunchback of notre dame and les miserables. Les miserables by victor hugo, first edition abebooks. As the film is historical, i believe that anyone aged 10 and up will enjoy the film. Of course its very hard to summarize accurately in 7 minutes and give an appropriate amount of time to each development.
The book is a great little kindle book that is a childrens version of the longer book. The gruesome makeup, which isnt generally that bad, but if your kids have been very shel. Im eleven and i read books for older people quite frequently. Hugos hiding a sharp tongue beneath all the misery, and he uses it to attack the social power structures that. Apr 30, 2016 les miserables i have been posting quotes from this book for a while now. If you know the answer to this question, please register to join our limited beta program and start the conversation. Is les miserables book by victor hugo inappropriate for a just turned yr old. Thats why i abridged it and created a childrens edition that is both understandable and appropriate for kids 814 years old. Mathilde might be more appropriate, but youd stil want to explain to your daughter what its about. Les miserables is a french historical novel by victor hugo, first published in 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. Les miserables is a truly emotional book that inspires you to look within yourself. When emperor napoleon 111 overthrew the government in 1851, hugo fled france. Oct 22, 2016 les miserables is a french historical novel by victor hugo, first published in 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century.
Please call the box office at 401 421arts 2787 to see which shows are appropriate for younger children. Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. Les miserables, brochure and handbill from the musical, by alain boublil and claudemichel schonberg based on the novel by victor hugo.
Most notably, the book begins as if it is a letter written from valjean to cosette at the time of his death, but the author loses the first. Dec 15, 2009 what age group is les miserables appropriate for. Les miserables was completed in 1862, shortly before the russian novelist began war and peace. Certain engagements and performances of this tour may be canceled or postponed due to the evolving coronavirus situation. Sep 04, 2017 6 reasons why you should read les miserables. Les miserables by monica kulling goodreads share book. Sep 26, 2012 however, this is a book which is over 100 years old and which still had the power to make me cry, not just once, but in several moments. The grandfather and the grandson in victor hugos les miserables. The concepts were a little hard for me to understand at that age but i loved the music. But ultimately, les miserables is about the redemptive power of love and faith, and there are many moments of hope and beauty amid the miserable ones. Is les miserables book by victor hugo inappropriate for a. For questions regarding upcoming performance schedules, please contact the.
He travels to the town of digne, and as the law requires, must show his papers. It is set in france and spans the course of 17 years, starting in 1815 and ending in 1832. Jean valjean is a convict recently released from prison after 19 years. The story of jean valjean, a poor french boy who is arrested at the age of 19 for stealing a loaf of bread for his family, and who is sentenced to the quarries for seven years. The characters are french and the book is centered around their lives. Les miserables is a heartbreaking adaptation of victor hugos 1862 novel. The story begins in 1815 in digne, as the peasant jean valjean, just released from 19 years imprisonment in the galleysfive for stealing bread for his starving sister and her family and. I bought two tickets to les miserables, musical at the national theater not the movie, and i am planning to take by 7 year old dd. Jan 10, 20 i finally went to see les miserables, the movie.
During the 1840s, hugo became involved in french politics. I believe the targeted age is about 10 and older, but dont let the word children fool you. It is a book which is still as relevant today in its tale of love and redemption, as it ever was a century ago. I light and darkness enjolras had gone to make a reconnaissance. They know how to behave in a theatre and enjoyed west side story and fame last year. Ive read bram stokers dracula, interview with a vampire, anne of green gables, wuthering heights, also the whole twilight saga, as well as books like three cups of tea and eat pray love although they are not classics im aware. Les mis is 2 hours and 50 minutes including one interval. Read les miserables stepping stones 1995 online free. Mar 31, 2017 a good book could be written about the bastardization of great novels, and victor hugos les miserables would make a fine exhibit a. Hugo was an established master of french verse by the age of eighteen or so, and the literary hero whom he revered. Jean valjeans hugh jackman imprisonment illustrates the injustices of prison systems of the time.
Les miserables or, as it is often shortened, les mis is a novel by victor hugo, published in 1862. An adventure story for children, the adventures of tom sawyer is a funfilled book that shows life along the mississippi river in the 1840s. However, immediately after coming out of the movie theater, i knew that i was going to have to read the book, which i do every few years as it is one of my favorites. These lines have often no connection whatever with the book which contains them. Written by mark twain, the book shows masterfullydone more. So, in general, les mis isnt a family friendly show if youve got kids who are in strollers or in the barbie age, but past that, its about the childs maturity and what they come to appreciate. At digne, he is repeatedly refused shelter for the night. The title is french, translating in english to the wretched ones. Les miserables cheap london tickets theatre tickets. Skip the novel entirely and tune into a new adaptation of the novel on pbs on april 14. Everything you need to know official london theatre. The book itself is about 150 pages in something like 15 chapters. Inspire lifelong reading with age appropriate books every month. Les miserables movie tiein by victor hugo, paperback.
He is seventyfive years old and lives only with a sister baptistine, ten years younger than he, and an old servant, madame magloire, the same age as his sister. Mar 02, 20 the strange power of les mis, the book victor hugos hardnosed melodrama. Taking a trip to the theatre is a great way to introduce youngsters to the arts and expose them to new forms of storytelling. An age appropriate accounting of this fascinating story that uses concrete language to communicate the key plot points. I was going to take my 3rd grader to go see les miserables at the starlight theater, but i heard there was some prostitution in it, maybe some older themes do you think it would be ok for a 3rd grader to see. Sometimes, in the midst of his reading, no matter what the book might be which he had in his hand, he would suddenly fall into a profound meditation, whence he only emerged to write a few lines on the pages of the volume itself. The book is nearly 3,000 pages long and considered an epic. The movie remarkably recreates the vibrant, gritty paris of the early 1800s in a story of sin, redemption, love, violence, tragedy, and ultimately, peace and hope. Jan 01, 1995 les miserables is my favorite broadway production, so i figured id be doing myself a disservice not to read the book. Books similar to les miserables goodreads share book.