Les Miserables

I’ve been reading “Les Miserables” by Victor Hugo. I’m reading the complete and unabridged version, all 1463 pages of it! It was published in 1862 becoming an instant hit. It has continued its popularity to this day. It has been made into plays and movies. The major story is timeless but I’m finding that so are all the minor story lines. The way Hugo weaves these stories and political commentaries together is genius! The first thing that stood out to me was the quality of the education needed not only to write the book but for others to read it. I make my living with words but I found myself going to the dictionary to understand many of the words he uses. In today’s world we think we know so much more than those that came before us. This book had me thinking that we are shrinking not growing our knowledge base. The second thing was the timelessness of the stories- they could have been plucked from today’s headlines. A young single mom, abandoned by her live in partner, is forced into prostitution to keep her child cared for, a young man steals food to feed his hungry children, a foster family abuses and neglects their charge while asking for more money, a young couple fall secretly in love, those released from prison find it nearly impossible to find honest work, a convict turns to God thru the influence of a loving and kind clergyman, anything sounding familiar yet? A little girl is adopted and given a good life while a young man is disowned by his family for his political opinions, abandoned children grow up homeless and on the streets, college students party regularly at the local bar and try to solve the world’s problems, there are protests, riots and revolution in the streets against the government. The further into the book I get the more I realize that the old adage- history repeats itself- is true. I’m spending my days in the high tech world of 2012. I’m spending my nights in the rustic, provincial world of 1862. I’m not seeing much difference. That’s the view from my side of the street, what’s yours?