I read the signet classics version of les miserables, which was good. Hugo now turns to another leading character, marius. Aug 11, 2017 each translation has its pros and cons but it mostly depends on what youre looking for. I havent read the new julie rose translation, but ive heard some folks say that she plays fast and loose with her translating, almost making an mtv version out of the novel. Finally in 2008 an unabridged translation by julie rose was released by the modern library in the us and vintage in the uk. Marius is a seventeenyearold who lives with his grandfather, m. Les miserables victor hugo, translated by julie rose george. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. What made the experience of listening to les miserables. Les miserables translations folio society devotees.
Victor hugo, les miserables, modern library translation by julie. Im up to part iii andno surpriseits amazing so far. The one by julie rose ive heard is mostly good, but some people complain about the use of modern vernacular. For instance rose uses the term slimy spook to describe javert in one section. 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. Buffalo news editors choice vibrant and readable, idiomatic and well suited to a long narrative, julie roses new translation of les miserables is closer to the captivating tone hugo would have struck for. May, 2015 christine donoughers new translation is brilliant. A favorite of readers for nearly 150 years, and the basis for one of the most beloved stage musicals ever, this stirring tale of crime, punishment, justice, and redemption pulses with life and energy. In a nearby town, georges pontmercy, marius father, a hero of the napoleonic wars, lives in retirement. A new translation by julie rose of hugos behemoth classic that is as racy and current and utterly arresting as it should be. I also hold a new copy of the julie rose translation which i have yet to read.
What donougher does is make it fluent to our ears and eyes and as thrilling to us now as it must have been in 1862 when it was published for the first time. Its very colloquial in spots almost jarringly colloquial, using current slang and contractions all throughout. A new translation of the full work, with a detailed biographical sketch of victor hugos life, a chronology, and notes. Les miserables was completed in 1862, shortly before the russian novelist began war and peace. Vibrant and readable, idiomatic and well suited to a long narrative, julie roses new translation of les miserables is closer to the captivating tone hugo would have struck for his own contemporaries.
Vibrant and readable, idiomatic and well suited to a long narrative, julie roses new translation of les miserables is closer to the captivating tone hugo would. Dec 28, 2012 the persistent greatness of les miserables. One day he rose from his armchair, and went to his library in search of a book. See more ideas about les miserables, les miserables book and les miserables victor hugo. Les miserables victor hugo, translated by julie rose. Now in a new translation from the french by christine donougher, les miserables is at once a. This is the best of the best english translations of les miserables. Les miserables translated by julie rose by cao xueqin translated by julie rose introduction by adam gopnik in this major new rendition by the acclaimed translator julie rose victor hugos les miserables is revealed in its full unabridged glory a.
Gillenormand, by threatening to disinherit marius, has forced georges. Best translations of les miserables by victor hugo. The translation, by julie rose, had a huge impact on the books readability listentoability. Which is the best english translation of les miserables. Nov 22, 2008 when julie rose took on victor hugos les miserables, two previous english translations dominated bookstore shelves. Listen to les miserables translation julie rose by victor hugo,george guidall for free with a 30 day free trial. Recently i purchased the book with a new translation. Les miserables modern library classics kindle edition by hugo. The first translation i read was norman dennys 1976. Les lits, reprit le directeur, sont bien serres les uns contre les autres. Julie rose the writertranslator who wrote in 2007 the first full original unabridged translation of victor hugos. When you read a book, especially a book like les miserables, which is.
New translation of les miserables the gospel coalition. Yet it was tolstoy who vindicated the french novelists early ambition by judging les miserables one of the worlds great novels, if not the greates, and acknowledged its effect on his own work. Julie rose is an author and artist from western canada. This may be a silly question, but, i took an interest in les miserables by watching the play. It was kind of clunky, so i wouldnt recommend that one. Les miserables is the great epic masterpiece of the midnineteenth century. Les miserables is a product as well as a document of the political, social, and religious upheaval that followed the. Can you help me find an ebook version of the julie rose translated. Begun in 1845, the year louis philippe conferred a peerage and a lifetime seat in the senate upon victor hugo, it was completed when the author was living in exile in the channel islands.
Buffalo news editors choice vibrant and readable, idiomatic and well suited to a long narrative, julie roses new translation of les miserables is closer to the captivating tone hugo would have struck for his own contemporaries. I finally took the opportunity earlier this year, when i learned that she was. Im willing to take the leap of faith she is fluent in french. With the spectacular film version of the major broadway musical adaptation of the english translations of the french novel playing in theaters worldwide, theres a renewed interest in victor hugos les miserables julie rose the writertranslator who wrote in 2007 the first full original unabridged translation of victor hugos epic novel is back on the talkshow circuit. Jun 28, 2010 sean lucas recently mentioned how much he is enjoying this new translation of victor hugos les miserables by julie rose. Comparing three translations of les miserables gently. Les miserables translated by julie rose pdf freemium media. Buffalo news editors choice vibrant and readable, idiomatic and well suited to a long narrative, julie roses new translation of les miserables is closer to the captivating tone hugo would have struck. Buffalo news editors choice vibrant and readable, idiomatic and well suited to a long narrative, julie rose s new translation of les miserables is closer to the captivating tone hugo would have struck. Accepting will, passion, lust, cruelty, rage, and violenceall the things les. Les miserables modern library classics victor hugo les miserables modern library classics victor hugo translated by julie rose introduction by adam gopnik in this major new rendition by the acclaimed translator julie rose, victor hugos les miserables is revealed in its full, unabridged glory. Julie rose, interview, 2009 shes translated more than thirty french works into english plays, poetry, novels, genre fiction. Listen to les miserables translation julie rose audiobook. The family and i just returned from les miserables.
Julie rose the writertranslator who wrote in 2007 the first full original unabridged translation of victor hugos epic novel is back. A favorite of readers for nearly 150 years, this stirring tale of crime, punishment, justice, and redemption pulses with life. Here is the timeless story of the quintessential hunted manjean valjeanand the. Nov 05, 2009 buy les miserables vintage classics by hugo, victor, thirlwell, adam, rose, julie isbn. The persistent greatness of les miserables the new yorker. This extraordinary english version by renowned translator julie rose captures all the majesty and brilliance of hugos work. It critically evaluates the merits of available translations and makes. More on the movie when i have a moment to collect my thoughts, but my overall response.
In the englishspeaking world, the novel is usually referred to by its original french title. One of the great classics of world literature and the inspiration for the most beloved stage musical of all time, les miserables is legendary author victor hugos masterpiece. Jan 21, 2017 the translation, by julie rose, had a huge impact on the books readability listentoability. Comparing three translations of les miserables gently hew stone. I believe the abridged version, which i read in high school a long time ago, was the old wilbour translation. She has been awarded three international prizes for her translations. One of the great classics of world literature and the inspiration for the most beloved stage musical of all time, les misa. Les miserables translated by julie rose pdf freemium.
Although hugo can be exceptionally wordy, the readers voice, inflections and style make it easy to listen, enjoy and just absorb the intent of what the author is communicating. Julie rose, translators preface, in victor hugo, les miserables xxiii julie rose trans. Dec 31, 2012 with the spectacular film version of the major broadway musical adaptation of the english translations of the french novel playing in theaters worldwide, theres a renewed interest in victor hugos les miserables. For example, geezer is used liberally, and feels completely wrong for 18151832. I havent read the new julie rose translation, but ive heard some. I have read the two other popular unabridged translations.
Its not available on ebook epub, mobi, pdf or anything yet. Description of the book les miserables rose translation. The buffalo news editors choice lively, dramatic, and wonderfully readable. So long as there shall exist, by virtue of law and custom, decrees of damnation pronounced by society, artificially creating hells amid the civilization of earth, and adding the element of human fate to divine destiny. I know the various translations of les miserables were mentioned before on the thread about folios le of les mis. Diane johnson a lively, dramatic, and wonderfully readable translation of one of the greatest 19thcentury novels. The first was by a contemporary and friend of hugo in 1862. The most recent one by christine donougher is better based on what ive seen from the few people i can find that have commented on it. When i began conceiving of the in translation series of essays last year, one of the first translators i wanted to invite was julie rose, as her mammoth new englishlanguage version of les miserables had just been released. Julie rose lives in sydney and is the highly regarded translator of more than a dozen works, including an acclaimed version of racines phedre as well as works by paul. 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.
Translated by julie rose introduction by adam gopnik in this major new rendition by the acclaimed translator julie rose, victor hugos les miserables is revealed in its full, unabridged glory. Victor hugo died on 22 may 1885 and his state funeral was attended by thousands of mourners. An unabridged edition based on the wilbour translation with its language modernized. May 04, 2017 i recently started reading les miserables. Les miserables, in english translation by victor hugo nook. Alison lurie, pulitzer prizewinning author of foreign affairs.
Translated by julie rose introduction by adam gopnik in this major new rendition by the acclaimed translator julie rose, victor hugos les. Reading les miserables digitally and matching translations. 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. Penguin classics kindle edition by hugo, victor, tombs, robert, donougher, christine. Rose makes so many obvious mistakes in les miserables that one really doubts her fluency in french. The main criticism of this translation is that the vocabulary is very modern and at times feels awkward. Exconvicts fiction paris france fiction historical fiction. In the past julie has written articles for children in ma. Now a major musical film from oscarwinning director tom hooper the kings speech, starring hugh jackman, russell crowe and anne hathaway, and also featuring amanda seyfreid, helena bonhamcarter and sacha baroncohen, victor hugos les miserables is one of the great works of western literature. Les miserables, five volumes, complete by victor hugo. Its pretty easy to read as some of the longer tangents and entire sections are moved or deleted as t.