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454 pages, Paperback
First published April 3, 1862
鈥灻巒 cimitirul P猫re-Lachaise, aproape de groapa comun膬..., 卯ntr-un col牛 pustiu, l芒ng膬 un zid cr膬pat, sub o tis膬 pe care urc膬 o ieder膬, printre smocuri de pir 艧i de mu艧chi, e o piatr膬... Ploaia a 卯nverzit-o, v卯ntul a 卯nnegrit-o. Nu e pe l卯ng膬 ea nici o potec膬, 艧i lumii nu-i place s膬 mearg膬 p卯n膬 acolo... Aceast膬 piatr膬 nu are pe ea nici o 卯nsemnare. Nu s-a g卯ndit nimeni, t膬ind-o, dec卯t la m膬rimea unui morm卯nt 艧i n-a vrut nimeni dec卯t s-o fac膬 destul de lung膬 艧i destul de 卯ngust膬 ca s膬 acopere un om. Nu e scris pe ea nici un nume鈥�.
One can see here the impact of Les Miserables on the Second Empire鈥�. The State was trying to clear its name. The Emperor and Empress performed some public acts of charity and brought philanthropy back into fashion. There was a sudden surge of official interest in penal legislation, the industrial exploitation of women, the care of orphans, and the education of the poor. From his rock in the English Channel, Victor Hugo, who can more fairly be called 鈥榯he French Dickens鈥� than Balzac, had set the parliamentary agenda for 1862.In that regard, it was a little like Uncle Tom's Cabin. This achievement definitely earns it its place in the French canon. However, I think like Uncle Tom's Cabin, its age definitely shows. Overall, I'm glad I read it but outside of its historical value鈥攖he history of the novel, the socio-cultural conditions of France in the 19th century鈥擨'm not sure it's worthwhile ploughing through. I definitely didn't enjoy it as much as some of the other canonical works of that period. Personally, unless you have some kind of fetish for 19th century works, I'd stick to just watching the musical. It has much better songs. And it'll take less time.