Victor Hugo

Charles Edwin Wilbour

One of the most widely read novels of all time,Les Misérableswas the crowning literary achievement ofVictor Hugo’s stunning career. Though he was considered the greatest French writer of his day, Hugo was forced to flee the country because of his opposition to Napoleon III. While in exile he completedLes Misérables, an enormous melodrama set against the background of political upheaval in France following the rule of Napoleon I. This newly abridged edition ofLes Misérablestells the story of the peasant Jean Valjean—unjustly imprisoned, baffled by destiny, and hounded by his nemesis, the magnificently realized, ambiguously malevolent police detective Javert. As Valjean struggles to redeem his past, we are thrust into the teeming underworld of Paris with all its poverty, ignorance, and suffering. Just as cruel tyranny threatens to extinguish the last vestiges of hope, rebellion sweeps over the land like wildfire, igniting a vast struggle for the democratic ideal in France. A monumental classic dedicated to the oppressed, the underdog, the laborer, the rebel, the orphan, and the misunderstood,Les Misérablesis a rich, emotional novel that captures nothing less than the entirety of life in nineteenth-century France.

Les Miserables (Abridged) (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)

Enriched Classics offer readers accessible editions of great works of literature enhanced by helpful notes and commentary. Each book includes educational tools alongside the text, enabling students and readers alike to gain a deeper and more developed understanding of the writer and their work. "Les Miserables "tells the story of ex-convict, Jean Valjean, and his valiant struggle to redeem his past. A potent social document of the poverty, ignorance, and brutality of man, "Les Miserables" is also a rousing adventure story, famous for such unrivaled scenes as the brilliant depiction of the Battle of Waterloo. Victor Hugo reached the peak of his powers in this far-reaching novel of nineteenth-century France. Here are combined the dramatic skills of Hugo the playwright, the rich imagination of Hugo the poet, and the compassion of Hugo the man. Enriched Classics enhance your engagement by introducing and explaining the historical and cultural significance of the work, the author's personal history, and what impact this book had on subsequent scholarship. Each book includes discussion questions that help clarify and reinforce major themes and reading recommendations for further research. Read with confidence.

Les Miserables

Charles M. Jefferds

John Walton and John W. Matthews were murdered June 30, 1860. In July, 1861, Charles M. Jefferds was tried for the murder of Walton and acquitted. In December, 1861, he was tried in the Court of General Sessions for the murder of Matthews.

Charles Edwin Wilbour

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