The Complete Book of Les Misérables

This is the full unabridged version of the book. Therefore it is a very long book. However, anyone who has an interest in that period of French history should enjoy the various tales that are woven together.My interest came because I have seen the musical on Broadway and also the touring version. I am also in a volunteer community chorus that recently gave a concert that included select pieces from the musical and I ended up doing research to provide narrative comments to the songs.There are many places where the musical is not true to the book because timelines and placement of certain things are artistically repositioned to suit the needs of the musical. For instance, in the book it is very clear that the Gavroche character is the cast-out son of the Thernardiers (the innkeepers who took care of Cossette for a while), but there isn't even any allusion to that in the musical.The major theme of the book is personal redeption of an individual named Jean Val-Jean. An individual who committed a crime and served time in prison for that crime and several escape attempts. Not long after his release from prison he undergoes an event that turns his life around and he becomes a different type of person who longs to prove to himself that he was not the person he was while in prison. Along the way he is a factory owner, the guardian of the child of one of the workers in his factory, and a benefactor to others. But mixed in with all of this is the historical context of events in France after the French Revolution and the fall of Napoleon. It may not be totally correct in some of the historical references because Victor Hugo apparently did not have access to many things that are now well established as the history of the era, but still the historical part is quite good and written in a way that provides drama and the human element along the way.I would guess, though, that most readers will prefer an abridged (and therefore much shorter) version of this book.

I have been deeply in love with the musical LES MISERABLES since the 1980s. I had never heard of this book before now, strangely enough. Having obtained a used copy (hardbound) and been reading through it, I have to tell you that this book, and the background it reveals of how this play came to be SO successful, as well as the wondrously generous behavior that is SO COMMON to each and every local CAST of Les Miserables, reading this wonderful book makes me choke back tears. If you love LES MIS', and want to read about the powerful effect that this beautiful musical has, both on those who see it, *and* upon those who perform IN IT, you really need to obtain a copy of this book. LES MIS' casts, for example, donate hundreds of tickets so that homeless people and other unfortunates can see the play for free and experience it joyous, godly, and uplifting message of kindness and hope. Castmembers frequently, with no pubicity or fanfare, spend many hours a week, regularly, volunteering at homeless shelters, at homes for battered women and children, you name it, the LES MIS' castmembers DO it. This play affects these kindhearted performers SO deeply, that they devote lots of their time to helping others because of the soul-stirring effect that playing these roles in LES MISERABLES always has on them. Reading these accounts, I have to force myself to refrain from sobbing.I cannot recommend this book highly enough, especially if you are already a fan of this play.Currently it is out of print, but is available online Used. Get it. And I hope it will be RE-released now that the film is set to open in the USA on December 25, 2012. Vive Les Miserables!

This book charts the amazing story of the genesis of this groundbreaking musical. There is a lot of information in the text that is very valuable to the theatre historian or the producer or director mounting the play as well as the intrepid fan. You get a sense of how high the stakes were when it was first produced and how unsure the production team were of the play's success. However, it leaves you wanting to know more about how they came up with the choices they did and about the people themselves and even though you get a glimpse behind the scenes, you wish there was more. The artistically blurry shots of the production are not helpful as they could be, but the revealing backstory of some of the principal creators is insightful and revealing.

i had this book before; had lent it to someone and never got it back, so i bought it again because i have seen this musical about five times (will see it again tomorrow night) and i love it! the book gives a complete libretto, as well as fascinating background and wonderful photographs from the production. anyone who is thinking of seeing this musical, or who has seen and loved it as i do, needs to have this book!

I am very interested in musicals. It was very informative about the author Victor Hugo and the producing of the musical itself. I highly recommend it.

Good book nice pics however one of the books came slightly damaged with a big crease thru 3/4 of the book

Research for a musical I am writing.

The Complete Book of Les Miserables  is well illustrated with photos from the original casts. This volume does have the complete Libretto in the back and good descriptive copy throughout. Worth having for Les Mis fans

The backstage story of how Les Mis came about. Fascinating, with a good collection of photos too.

Brilliant

A very useful and interesting book.Will be very useful in analysing the process of turning this important novel into two major artistic events.

Un libro muy completo para los fans de este hermoso musical.