Mar 03, 20 les miserables is a french historical novel by victor hugo, first published in 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the nineteenth century. Ive finally decided to give victor hugos muchacclaimed les miserables a try. At least six english translations of the novel exist, by. Its the same translation norman denny, 1976 that ive been reading from a big stack of paper. Victor hugo 18021885, novelist, poet, playwright, and french national icon, is best known for two of todays most popular world classics. Its pretty easy to read as some of the longer tangents and entire sections are moved or deleted as t.
I read the hardback penguin norman denny translation, which worked well for me. Les miserables by victor hugo goodreads share book. Story of valjean, the exconvict who rises against all odds from galley slave to mayor, and the fanatical police inspector who dedicates his life to recapturing valjean. First impressions of the donougher transalation reading les mis. Adapted by the bbc in a lavish television series in 2018, les miserables is a timeless story. For more than seventy years, penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the englishspeaking world. Comparing three translations of les miserables gently. Les miserables book victor hugo 1922 french allyn and bacon hard cover vtg. Les miserables in english les miserables pronounced or. Books, images, historic newspapers, maps, archives and more. This book is available for free download in a number of formats including epub, pdf, azw, mobi and more. Free download or read online les miserables pdf epub les miserables series book. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 1463 pages and is available in mass market paperback format. Norman denny s lively english translation is accompanied by an introduction discussing hugos political and artistic aims in writing les miserables.
Dennys 1976 translation is thought by most to be a good balance. Denny s very pretty, but if youre planning to analyze the book, dont get his translation. Les miserables and the hunchback of notredame, as well as other works, including the toilers of the sea and the man who laughs. It is not simply for himself that valjean must stay free, however, for he has sworn to protect the baby daughter of fantine, driven to prostitution by poverty. Comparing three translations of les miserables gently hew stone. D norman denny s translation only i know the password, so dont even try to guess. The friends of the abcs are goobers, funny funny goobers marius bangs his head against a tree for. Translated from french by norman denny this is probably one of victor hugos bestknown books, popularized by the musical starring hugh jackman, russell crowe and anne hathaway. Buy les miserables classics by hugo, victor, denny, norman, denny, norman, denny, norman from amazons fiction books store. But since a twohour film can only provide a brief summary, i decided to read it. Victor hugo 180285, novelist, poet, playwright, and french national icon, is best known for two of todays most popular world classics. The denny translation is a photograph of the painting, though you can see all this detail, its never as good as the. I came to love the asides, and the battle chapters of waterloo were made easier by reading them one at a time. In the englishspeaking world, the novel is usually referred to by its original french title.
As much a history or commentary as a work of fiction, les miserables is dominated by frances past. 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. While relevant to the main plot of the novel, hugos historical tangents are. First impressions of the donougher transalation reading. The first translation i read was norman dennys 1976. Les miserables translations folio society devotees. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Best english translations of victor hugos les miserables owlcation. Enjolras x grantaire moments norman denny translation. I appreciate the recommendation of the donougher translation a translation can really make or break a book, and i. Wilbour created the first english translation of les miserables in 1863, just. The first edition of the novel was published in 1862, and was written by victor hugo. Norman denny was the first person to offer a new translation in the twentieth century.
Each translation has its pros and cons but it mostly depends on what youre looking for. Les miserables penguin classics hugo, victor, denny, norman, denny. Two times on amazon i found a denny translation, but when i clicked on the e book or the kindle version, the link took me to a non denny translation. Then in 2015 over summer, finally got around to reading the unabridged book and that version felt like a masterpiece. A lively, dramatic, and wonderfully readable translation of one of the greatest 19thcentury novels. But since a twohour film can only provide a brief summary, i decided to read it in its entirety and see for myself why it is so well. May 04, 2017 i recently started reading les miserables. Jan 08, 2019 norman denny was the first person to offer a new translation in the twentieth century. Christine donoughers translation reads very smoothly. Which is the best english translation of les miserables.
I decided to find a copy of dennys translation from the 70s. Les miserables 1862 by victor hugo as translated by norman. 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. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading les miserables classics. And to read denny if you want to get something a little closer to what i have come to see as the spirit of les miserables itself. I read les mis in 2018 as a chapteraday book it has exactly 365 chapters. Les miserables penguin classics 9780140444308 by hugo, victor and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. However, ive decided to make it my new years resolution that i was going to get it off amazon and read it. Les miserables, five volumes, complete by victor hugo.
Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. This is the most common version available in the uk, released in 1976 by folio press with bizarre illustrations and by penguin as a paperback in 1980. Side blog specifically for les miserables the book. You can also read the full text online using our ereader. Idioms all seemed to be appropriate all the way through the novel. Nov 22, 2008 the art of translation literary translation isnt as straightforward as you might think, especially when the choice of a single word can determine the arc of an entire work. Donougher is easy to get through, while still retaining most of the impact and nearly all of the meaning. First published in 1862, and set in france between 1815 and 1832after the french revolution and napoleonthe book is a sprawling canvas with many subplots. Norman denny victor hugos tale of injustice, heroism and love follows the fortunes of jean valjean, an escaped convict determined to put his criminal past behind him. Onevolume edition, paperback, 1,232 pages harmondsworth, middlesex, england. Nov 05, 2009 buy les miserables vintage classics by hugo, victor, thirlwell, adam, rose, julie isbn. Jean valjean is imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread. Jun 22, 2008 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg.
When you read a book, especially a book like les miserables, which is classed an as epic drama, you dont just want to know the story, you want to experience it. Did it take victor hugo 12 years to write the classic novel les miserables. Jan 14, 2018 as i mentioned last time, ive picked up a new translation of les miserables, the 20 donougher translation. Norman denny s introduction to his lively english translation discusses hugos political and artistic aims in writing les miserables. If norman denny is still alive i want to thank him for his excellent translation of les miserables by victor hugo. Les miserables by victor hugo, norman denny waterstones. Nov 14, 2012 victor hugo 180285 was the most forceful, prolific and versatile of french nineteenthcentury writers.
Im at the point where valjean is about to steal the silver spoilers. Novel of the century, by david bello david bellos new book is a comprehensive guide to les miserables, and a compelling story in its own right, packed with detail about the. When you read a book, especially a book like les miserables, which is. So all in all if i had to recommend a translation to someone i would say to read the fahnestock and mcafee version if you want what was in the original word for word. Best english translations of victor hugos les miserables. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. Brick by brick enjolras x grantaire moments norman. Also, some thoughts on various translations of the book. Although this isnt a book forum, i know that most of you have read the book and know what translations are good or not. I was just trying to buy a digital copy of the denny translation. A search on victor hugo got me nothing and a search on les miserables also yielded nothing. Translation and introduction by norman denny, folio press, 1976.
Les miserables by victor hugo translated by norman denny. Reading les miserables is like walking into another world. Im up to part iii andno surpriseits amazing so far. Les miserables by victor hugo, 9781846140495, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. A lot of the historical and classical references were removed and there are many mistranslations. Pdf les miserables book les miserables free download. Reading les miserables digitally and matching translations. While the fictional aspects may seem to be an afterthought, hugos craft is. The wilbour was published a couple of years after the original french, so its very much written in the style. Melody ive read the norman denny translation and to me he truly grasped the poetry and drama of victor hugos writing. Buy les miserables by victor hugo, norman denny from waterstones today. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg.
Hugo want just a novelist, he was amore ive read the norman denny translation and to me he truly grasped the poetry and drama of victor hugos writing. Les miserables classics kindle edition by hugo, victor. I feel like ill get through it faster this time or would, if it. Out of the two ive read charles wilbour and norman denny, i much prefer the denny. I started the year with the denny, so that ended up being the main one i stayed with the whole time. Highly readable but denny takes great liberties with hugos text and a lot of material is omitted. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. Otoh, the norman denny translation, which is only slightly abridged. I researched translations and couldnt find one that stood out, so i figured id just try the old original standard translation from the 19th century, the wilbour translation. Just funnycool things and commentary while im reading it and different translations and stuff.
Throughout the year i readreferred to three different translations of les miserables the denny, the rose and the donougher. The fahnestockmcafee translation is really good, but it can be a drag. I also read his les miserables again, that is 21 years after i read it for the first time in my high school in france, and i was. I recommend the wilbour translation or the denny s translation. Three english translations of victor hugos les miserables offer. 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. The first translation i read was norman denny s 1976. Which version of les miserables is best for kindle. This adds to the depth and your conception of the character. Les miserables classics kindle edition by hugo, victor, norman denny, norman denny. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
203 1383 570 1319 1364 1260 625 992 785 1498 996 231 680 411 709 1003 1033 849 6 372 559 668 1385 300 551 1409 1004 883 1632 416 1330 1285 1432 356 1274 1483 1285 310 800 1439