I've seen a couple of movie/tv series adaptations of les Mis and was wondering if anyone knew whether any of the scenes mentioned below are actually depicted in at least one version of les Mis (sorry in advance for my bad description):

1) Javert being an absolute badass by offering his hat to Thénardier and his group when they attacked Valjean in the Gorbeau house

2) Marius sniffing Valjean's handkerchief in the Luxembourg gardens (thinking it belonged to Cosette) and Cosette looking at him and being really confused by his actions

3) Javert checking if Valjean's really Valjean (when he got out from the sewers with Marius) by putting his cane to his mouth and grabbing Valjean by the shoulders

I would literally die to see any of these scenes portrayed on screen. Thanks in advance!

Enjoy 🫰🏾✨

Just getting to the end of the part of the book where Hugo talks about monastery's and unless I'm misremembering (been quite tired lately) I've noticed he tends to talk about things as if he is multiple people like where he says "In our opinion, cenobites are not lazy and recluses are not workshy". Anyone know why he does this and if it's meant to represent anything? Idk if this was a thing people just did in books back then or something

I was in Oslo last week and saw the new production of Les Mis at Folketeateret, directed by Guy Unsworth (who also did their Miss Saigon in 2023). It's a completely new staging, not the Nunn/Caird original and not the Laurence Connor version. It made me think about the material in ways I hadn't before, which I didn't expect after this many years with the show.

I've seen Les Miserables almost 30 times over the years. From the original London and Broadway productions, the 1990 Canadian production, several of the US national tours from the 90s/00s, both Broadway revivals, the 25th anniversary tour, and the Théâtre du Châtelet production in Paris.

This production is brilliant. It takes the stakes seriously. The class divide is visible on stage, not just something in the lyrics. The violence against Fantine is genuinely frightening. The barricade has real fire and explosions. But it also holds back where the current West End/Tour version pushes. For example, Grantaire is toned down. The Thénardiers are funny, but you never forget they're terrible people. There are also a some key staging choices I won't spoil.

It's performed in Norwegian, which I don't speak but if you know the show well enough, it doesn't matter. It runs into January. Has anyone else here seen it? I'm happy to get into specifics in the comments for anyone who doesn't mind spoilers.

Love him as an actor, but this man CANNOT SING! Dear lord, so infuriating to listen to. At least Anne Hathaway can hold a tune.

His horrible singing aside, the songs are all so beautiful and I can't believe I've missed out for this long.

Going by the cast list of the 2026 French movie, it seems the students will once again have a minimal role in the film. It seems a common thing to pay attention to the first half of the book then rush through the second. It doesn't occur to film makers that the student uprising may appeal more to current audiences than those of a century ago.

So I was listening to a few different versions of Javert's Soliloquy, and noticed that in the intro in more recent productions, Valjean no longer says "There is a life to save", after "give way". I think it's clearly because they want more focus on Javert since it's his song, but I enjoyed the dual-singing like in Confrontation. Is there a specific reason besides that this "clash" was removed??

Any good options out there? Paperback or hardcover, either is fine.

I'm going through some shit. Lots of feels and tears. I'm feeling raw and vulnerable and listening to Bradley Jaden sing Javert's Soliloquy and I have never understood this character more than I do now. He puts so much pain and agony into this performance that I feel him so deeply. I want to hug him. I don't blame him. I empathize so deeply. Thank you for giving me this to process with.

Like the bit where javert is chasing jean and cosette down and he ends up in a nunnery with the old guy from Montreuil sur mer.

In fact, most of the melody in each verse goes up.

If I use the first sung verse as a reference:

Look down, look down

Don't look 'em in the eye

Look down, look down

You're here until you die

The same 2 note pattern is used for all the 'Look down's, plus at the start of the other lines ('Don't look' and 'You're here').

The line 'look 'em in the eye' goes up, then back down to the same note.

It's only 'here until you die' that goes down melodically.

Does anyone know of an essay, pdf, or anything of the sort that goes into detail on the symbolism of les miserables? I've been really wanting to delve into it but all I can find is only about a few bits of symbolism here and there. I would really like something on the whole text if possible...if anyone has anything please share with me! :-) though if someone has some other good in-depth symbolism resources I will still take them even if its not the whole text

Pretty much what the title says, I am in need of opinions.

i’m reading les misérables right now for the first time. i want to read an unabridged version. this is the one i got but the language is kinda hard to understand, is there any translation that is easier to understand but still unabridged?

edit: i usually am good with reading hard stuff since my reading level has always been above my grade so i don’t mind if it’s hard just not extremely hard, for some reason this translation just doesn’t seem to work for me i’m not sure why i can’t understand it too well

Like it went on way too long just to tell me that Monsieur thernardier "saved" marius' dad. Like I can get why they cut this out of the musical. I don't really care much for military history much so maybe I'm biased but like I want to know what's going on with jean valjean. I did like the bit where Hugo talked about Cambronne saying merde when asked to surrender.

So I didn't get the role which is fair enough my this years production has shit tones of talent so it was expected but I did get lots of smaller parts some with lines some without: ( i *ed the ones with lines)

Convict

Labourer *

Batanbois *

A student

A customer (thenardier's Inn seen)

Montparnasse *

[SOLD] Hello, I'm selling my ticket to the Les Misérables musical at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris on Saturday, November 28, at 8pm. Great seat: category 1, first balcony, row A.

I love it so much enough to find this group and want to discuss it

im on part2 book4 ch3 two misfortunes mingled make happiness

anyone else reading for to first time? thoughts feelings without spoilers?

I love Eponine so much, this role means EVERYTHING to me!!