Les Misérables E-Book

Victor Hugo

• Herausgeber: Youcanprint
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017

Beschreibung

Les Misérables (1862) is a novel by French author Victor Hugo, and among the best-known novels of the 19th century. It follows the lives and interactions of several French characters over a twenty year period in the early 19th century that starts in the year of Napoleon's final defeat. Principally focusing on the struggles of the protagonist—ex-convict Jean Valjean—who seeks to redeem himself, the novel also examines the impact of Valjean's actions for the sake of social commentary. It examines the nature of good, evil, and the law, in a sweeping story that expounds upon the history of France, architecture of Paris, politics, moral philosophy, law, justice, religion, and the types and nature of romantic and familial love. Les Misérables is known to many through its numerous stage and screen adaptations, of which the most famous is the stage musical of the same name, sometimes abbreviated "Les Mis" or "Les Miz" .

Leseprobe

Victor Hugo

Les Misérables

First digital edition 2017 by Anna Ruggieri

CONTENTS

Victor Hugo

Les Misérables

VOLUME I.—FANTINE.

PREFACE

FANTINE

BOOK FIRST—A JUST MAN

CHAPTER I—M. MYRIEL

CHAPTER II—M. MYRIEL BECOMES M. WELCOME

CHAPTER III—A HARD BISHOPRIC FOR A GOOD BISHOP

CHAPTER IV—WORKS CORRESPONDING TO WORDS

CHAPTER V—MONSEIGNEUR BIENVENU MADE HIS CASSOCKS LAST TOO LONG

CHAPTER VI—WHO GUARDED HIS HOUSE FOR HIM

CHAPTER VII—CRAVATTE

CHAPTER VIII—PHILOSOPHY AFTER DRINKING

CHAPTER IX—THE BROTHER AS DEPICTED BY THE SISTER

CHAPTER X—THE BISHOP IN THE PRESENCE OF AN UNKNOWN LIGHT

CHAPTER XI—A RESTRICTION

CHAPTER XII—THE SOLITUDE OF MONSEIGNEUR WELCOME

CHAPTER XIII—WHAT HE BELIEVED

CHAPTER XIV—WHAT HE THOUGHT

BOOK SECOND—THE FALL

CHAPTER I—THE EVENING OF A DAY OF WALKING

CHAPTER II—PRUDENCE COUNSELLED TO WISDOM.

CHAPTER III—THE HEROISM OF PASSIVE OBEDIENCE.

CHAPTER IV—DETAILS CONCERNING THE CHEESE-DAIRIES OF PONTARLIER.

CHAPTER V—TRANQUILLITY

CHAPTER VI—JEAN VALJEAN

CHAPTER VII—THE INTERIOR OF DESPAIR

CHAPTER VIII—BILLOWS AND SHADOWS

CHAPTER IX—NEW TROUBLES

CHAPTER X—THE MAN AROUSED

CHAPTER XI—WHAT HE DOES

CHAPTER XII—THE BISHOP WORKS

CHAPTER XIII—LITTLE GERVAIS

BOOK THIRD.—IN THE YEAR 1817

CHAPTER I—THE YEAR 1817

CHAPTER II—A DOUBLE QUARTETTE

CHAPTER III—FOUR AND FOUR

CHAPTER IV—THOLOMYÈS IS SO MERRY THAT HESINGS A SPANISH DITTY

CHAPTER V—AT BOMBARDA’S

CHAPTER VI—A CHAPTER INWHICH THEY ADORE EACH OTHER

CHAPTER VII—THE WISDOM OF THOLOMYÈS

CHAPTER VIII—THE DEATH OF A HORSE

CHAPTER IX—A MERRY END TO MIRTH

BOOK FOURTH.—TO CONFIDE IS SOMETIMES TO DELIVER INTO A PERSON’S POWER

CHAPTER I—ONE MOTHER MEETS ANOTHER MOTHER

CHAPTER II—FIRST SKETCH OF TWO UNPREPOSSESSING FIGURES

CHAPTER III—THE LARK

BOOK FIFTH.—THE DESCENT.

CHAPTER I—THE HISTORY OF A PROGRESS IN BLACK GLASS TRINKETS

CHAPTER II—MADELEINE

CHAPTER III—SUMS DEPOSITED WITH LAFFITTE

CHAPTER IV—M. MADELEINE IN MOURNING

CHAPTER V—VAGUE FLASHES ON THE HORIZON

CHAPTER VI—FATHER FAUCHELEVENT

CHAPTER VII—FAUCHELEVENT BECOMES A GARDENER IN PARIS

CHAPTER VIII—MADAME VICTURNIEN EXPENDS THIRTY FRANCS ON MORALITY

CHAPTER IX—MADAME VICTURNIEN’SSUCCESS

CHAPTER X—RESULT OF THE SUCCESS

CHAPTER XI—CHRISTUS NOS LIBERAVIT

CHAPTER XII—M. BAMATABOIS’S INACTIVITY

CHAPTER XIII—THE SOLUTION OF SOME QUESTIONS CONNECTED WITH THE MUNICIPAL POLICE

BOOK SIXTH.—JAVERT

CHAPTER I—THE BEGINNING OF REPOSE

CHAPTER II—HOW JEAN MAY BECOME CHAMP

BOOK SEVENTH.—THE CHAMPMATHIEU AFFAIR

CHAPTER I—SISTER SIMPLICE

CHAPTER II—THE PERSPICACITY OF MASTER SCAUFFLAIRE

CHAPTER III—A TEMPEST IN A SKULL

CHAPTER IV—FORMS ASSUMED BY SUFFERINGDURING SLEEP

CHAPTER V—HINDRANCES

CHAPTER VI—SISTER SIMPLICE PUT TO THE PROOF

CHAPTER VII—THE TRAVELLER ON HIS ARRIVAL TAKES PRECAUTIONS FOR DEPARTURE

CHAPTER VIII—AN ENTRANCE BY FAVOR

CHAPTER IX—A PLACE WHERE CONVICTIONS ARE IN PROCESS OF FORMATION

CHAPTER X—THE SYSTEM OF DENIALS

CHAPTER XI—CHAMPMATHIEU MORE AND MORE ASTONISHED

BOOK EIGHTH.—A COUNTER-BLOW

CHAPTER I—IN WHAT MIRROR M. MADELEINE CONTEMPLATES HIS HAIR

CHAPTER II—FANTINE HAPPY

CHAPTER III—JAVERT SATISFIED

CHAPTER IV—AUTHORITY REASSERTS ITS RIGHTS

CHAPTER V—A SUITABLE TOMB

VOLUME II.—COSETTE

BOOK FIRST.—WATERLOO

CHAPTER I—WHAT IS MET WITH ON THE WAY FROM NIVELLES

CHAPTER II—HOUGOMONT

CHAPTER III—THE EIGHTEENTH OF JUNE, 1815

CHAPTER IV—A

CHAPTER V—THE QUID OBSCURUM OF BATTLES

CHAPTER VI—FOUR O’CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON

CHAPTER VII—NAPOLEON INA GOOD HUMOR

CHAPTER VIII—THE EMPEROR PUTS A QUESTION TO THE GUIDE LACOSTE

CHAPTER IX—THE UNEXPECTED

CHAPTER X—THEPLATEAU OF MONT-SAINT-JEAN

CHAPTER XI—A BADGUIDE TO NAPOLEON; A GOOD GUIDE TO BÜLOW

CHAPTER XII—THE GUARD

CHAPTER XIII—THE CATASTROPHE

CHAPTER XIV—THE LAST SQUARE

CHAPTER XV—CAMBRONNE

CHAPTER XVI—QUOT LIBRAS IN DUCE?

CHAPTER XVII—IS WATERLOO TO BE CONSIDERED GOOD?

CHAPTER XVIII—A RECRUDESCENCE OF DIVINE RIGHT

CHAPTER XIX—THE BATTLE-FIELD AT NIGHT

BOOKSECOND.—THE SHIP ORION

CHAPTER I—NUMBER 24,601 BECOMES NUMBER 9,430

CHAPTER II—IN WHICH THE READER WILL PERUSE TWO VERSES, WHICH AREOF THE DEVIL’S COMPOSITION, POSSIBLY

CHAPTER III—THE ANKLE-CHAIN MUST HAVE UNDERGONE A CERTAIN PREPARATORY MANIPULATION TO BE THUS BROKEN WITH A BLOW FROM A HAMMER

BOOKTHIRD.—ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE PROMISE MADE TO THE DEAD WOMAN

CHAPTER I—THE WATER QUESTION AT MONTFERMEIL

CHAPTER II—TWO COMPLETE PORTRAITS

CHAPTER III—MEN MUST HAVE WINE, AND HORSES MUST HAVE WATER

CHAPTER IV—ENTRANCE ON THE SCENE OF A DOLL

CHAPTER V—THE LITTLE ONE ALL ALONE

CHAPTER VI—WHICH POSSIBLY PROVES BOULATRUELLE’S INTELLIGENCE

CHAPTER VII—COSETTE SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE STRANGER IN THE DARK

CHAPTER VIII—THE UNPLEASANTNESS OF RECEIVING INTO ONE’S HOUSE A POOR MAN WHO MAY BE A RICH MAN

CHAPTER IX— THÉNARDIER AND HIS MANŒUVRES

CHAPTER X—HE WHO SEEKS TO BETTER HIMSELF MAY RENDER HIS SITUATION WORSE

CHAPTER XI—NUMBER 9,430 REAPPEARS, AND COSETTE WINS IT IN THE LOTTERY

BOOK FOURTH.—THE GORBEAU HOVEL

CHAPTER I—MASTER GORBEAU

CHAPTER II—A NEST FOR OWL AND A WARBLER

CHAPTER III—TWO MISFORTUNES MAKE ONE PIECE OF GOOD FORTUNE

CHAPTER IV—THE REMARKS OF THE PRINCIPAL TENANT

CHAPTER V—A FIVE-FRANC PIECE FALLS ON THE GROUND AND PRODUCES A TUMULT

BOOK FIFTH.—FOR A BLACK HUNT, A MUTE PACK

CHAPTER I—THE ZIGZAGS OF STRATEGY

CHAPTER II—IT IS LUCKY THAT THE PONT D’AUSTERLITZ BEARS CARRIAGES

CHAPTER III—TO WIT, THE PLAN OF PARIS IN 1727

CHAPTER IV—THE GROPINGS OF FLIGHT

CHAPTER V—WHICH WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLEWITH GAS LANTERNS

CHAPTER VI—THE BEGINNING OF AN ENIGMA

CHAPTER VII—CONTINUATION OF THE ENIGMA

CHAPTER VIII—THE ENIGMA BECOMES DOUBLY MYSTERIOUS

CHAPTER IX—THE MAN WITH THE BELL

CHAPTER X—WHICH EXPLAINS HOW JAVERT GOT ON THE SCENT

BOOK SIXTH.—LE PETIT-PICPUS

CHAPTER I—NUMBER 62 RUE PETIT-PICPUS

CHAPTER II—THE OBEDIENCE OF MARTIN VERGA

CHAPTER III—AUSTERITIES

CHAPTER IV—GAYETIES

CHAPTER V—DISTRACTIONS

CHAPTER VI—THE LITTLE CONVENT

CHAPTER VII—SOME SILHOUETTES OF THIS DARKNESS

CHAPTER VIII—POST CORDA LAPIDES

CHAPTER IX—A CENTURY UNDER A GUIMPE

CHAPTER X—ORIGIN OF THE PERPETUAL ADORATION

CHAPTER XI—END OF THE PETIT-PICPUS

BOOK SEVENTH.—PARENTHESIS

CHAPTER I—THE CONVENT AS AN ABSTRACT IDEA

CHAPTER II—THE CONVENT AS AN HISTORICAL FACT

CHAPTER III—ON WHAT CONDITIONS ONE CAN RESPECT THE PAST

CHAPTER IV—THE CONVENT FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF PRINCIPLES

CHAPTER V—PRAYER

CHAPTER VI—THE ABSOLUTE GOODNESS OF PRAYER

CHAPTER VII—PRECAUTIONS TO BE OBSERVED IN BLAME

CHAPTER VIII—FAITH, LAW

BOOK EIGHTH.—CEMETERIES TAKE THAT WHICH IS COMMITTED THEM

CHAPTER I—WHICH TREATS OF THE MANNER OF ENTERING A CONVENT

CHAPTER II—FAUCHELEVENT IN THE PRESENCE OF A DIFFICULTY

CHAPTER III—MOTHER INNOCENTE

CHAPTER IV—IN WHICH JEAN VALJEAN HAS QUITE THE AIR OF HAVING READ AUSTIN CASTILLEJO

CHAPTER V—IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO BE DRUNK IN ORDER TO BE IMMORTAL

CHAPTER VI—BETWEEN FOUR PLANKS

CHAPTER VII—IN WHICH WILL BE FOUND THE ORIGIN OF THE SAYING: DON’T LOSE THE CARD

CHAPTER VIII—A SUCCESSFUL INTERROGATORY

CHAPTER IX—CLOISTERED

VOLUME III—MARIUS.

BOOK FIRST.—PARIS STUDIED IN ITS ATOM

CHAPTER I—PARVULUS

CHAPTER II—SOME OF HIS PARTICULAR CHARACTERISTICS

CHAPTER III—HE IS AGREEABLE

CHAPTER IV—HE MAY BE OF USE

CHAPTER V—HIS FRONTIERS

CHAPTER VI—A BIT OF HISTORY

CHAPTER VII—THE GAMIN SHOULD HAVE HIS PLACE IN THE CLASSIFICATIONS OF INDIA

CHAPTER VIII—IN WHICH THE READER WILL FIND A CHARMING SAYING OF THE LAST KING

CHAPTER IX—THE OLD SOUL OF GAUL

CHAPTER X—ECCE PARIS, ECCE HOMO

CHAPTER XI—TO SCOFF, TO REIGN

CHAPTER XII—THE FUTURE LATENT IN THE PEOPLE

CHAPTER XIII—LITTLE GAVROCHE

BOOK SECOND.—THE GREAT BOURGEOIS

CHAPTER I—NINETY YEARS AND THIRTY-TWO TEETH

CHAPTER II—LIKE MASTER, LIKE HOUSE

CHAPTER III—LUC-ESPRIT

CHAPTER IV—A CENTENARIAN ASPIRANT

CHAPTER V—BASQUE AND NICOLETTE

CHAPTER VI—IN WHICH MAGNON AND HER TWO CHILDREN ARE SEEN

CHAPTER VII—RULE: RECEIVE NO ONE EXCEPT IN THE EVENING

CHAPTER VIII—TWO DO NOT MAKE A PAIR

BOOK THIRD.—THE GRANDFATHER AND THE GRANDSON

CHAPTER I—AN ANCIENT SALON

CHAPTER II—ONE OF THE RED SPECTRES OF THAT EPOCH

CHAPTER III—REQUIESCANT

CHAPTER IV—END OF THE BRIGAND

CHAPTER V—THE UTILITY OF GOING TO MASS, IN ORDER TO BECOME A REVOLUTIONIST

CHAPTERVI—THE CONSEQUENCES OF HAVING MET A WARDEN

CHAPTER VII—SOME PETTICOAT

CHAPTER VIII—MARBLE AGAINST GRANITE

BOOK FOURTH.—THE FRIENDS OF THE A B C

CHAPTER I—A GROUP WHICH BARELY MISSED BECOMING HISTORIC

CHAPTER II—BLONDEAU’S FUNERAL ORATION BY BOSSUET

CHAPTER III—MARIUS’ ASTONISHMENTS

CHAPTER IV—THE BACK ROOM OF THE CAFÉ MUSAIN

CHAPTER V—ENLARGEMENT OF HORIZON

CHAPTER VI—RES ANGUSTA

BOOK FIFTH.—THE EXCELLENCE OF MISFORTUNE

CHAPTER I—MARIUS INDIGENT

CHAPTER II—MARIUS POOR

CHAPTER III—MARIUS GROWN UP

CHAPTER IV—M. MABEUF

CHAPTER V—POVERTY A GOOD NEIGHBOR FOR MISERY

CHAPTER VI—THE SUBSTITUTE

BOOK SIXTH.—THE CONJUNCTION OF TWO STARS

CHAPTER I—THE SOBRIQUET: MODE OF FORMATION OF FAMILY NAMES

CHAPTER II—LUX FACTA EST

CHAPTER III—EFFECT OF THE SPRING

CHAPTER IV—BEGINNING OF A GREAT MALADY

CHAPTER V—DIVERS CLAPS OF THUNDER FALL ON MA’AM BOUGON

CHAPTER VI—TAKEN PRISONER

CHAPTER VII—ADVENTURES OF THE LETTER U DELIVEREDOVER TO CONJECTURES

CHAPTER VIII—THE VETERANS THEMSELVES CAN BE HAPPY

CHAPTER IX—ECLIPSE

BOOK SEVENTH.—PATRON MINETTE

CHAPTER I—MINES AND MINERS

CHAPTER II—THE LOWEST DEPTHS

CHAPTER III—BABET, GUEULEMER, CLAQUESOUS, AND MONTPARNASSE

CHAPTER IV—COMPOSITION OF THE TROUPE

BOOK EIGHTH.—THE WICKED POOR MAN

CHAPTER I—MARIUS, WHILE SEEKING A GIRL IN A BONNET, ENCOUNTERS A MAN IN A CAP

CHAPTER II—TREASURE TROVE

CHAPTER III—QUADRIFRONS

CHAPTER IV—A ROSE IN MISERY

CHAPTER V—A PROVIDENTIAL PEEP-HOLE

CHAPTER VI—THE WILD MAN IN HIS LAIR

CHAPTER VII—STRATEGY AND TACTICS

CHAPTER VIII—THE RAY OF LIGHT IN THE HOVEL

CHAPTER IX—JONDRETTE COMES NEAR WEEPING

CHAPTER X—TARIFF OF LICENSED CABS: TWO FRANCS AN HOUR

CHAPTER XI—OFFERS OF SERVICE FROM MISERY TO WRETCHEDNESS

CHAPTER XII—THE USE MADE OF M.LEBLANC’S FIVE-FRANC PIECE

CHAPTER XIII—SOLUS CUM SOLO, IN LOCO REMOTO, NON COGITABUNTUR ORARE PATER NOSTER

CHAPTER XIV—IN WHICH A POLICE AGENT BESTOWS TWO FISTFULS ON A LAWYER

CHAPTER XV—JONDRETTE MAKES HIS PURCHASES

CHAPTER XVI—IN WHICH WILL BE FOUND THEWORDS TO AN ENGLISH AIR WHICH WAS IN FASHION IN 1832

CHAPTER XVII—THE USE MADE OF MARIUS’ FIVE-FRANC PIECE

CHAPTER XVIII—MARIUS’ TWO CHAIRS FORM A VIS-A-VIS

CHAPTER XIX—OCCUPYING ONE’S SELF WITH OBSCURE DEPTHS

CHAPTER XX—THE TRAP

CHAPTER XXI—ONESHOULD ALWAYS BEGIN BY ARRESTING THE VICTIMS

CHAPTER XXII—THE LITTLE ONE WHO WAS CRYING IN VOLUME TWO

VOLUME IV.—SAINT-DENIS.

BOOK FIRST.—A FEW PAGES OF HISTORY

CHAPTER I—WELL CUT

CHAPTER II—BADLY SEWED

CHAPTER III—LOUIS PHILIPPE

CHAPTER IV—CRACKS BENEATH THE FOUNDATION

CHAPTER V—FACTS WHENCE HISTORY SPRINGS AND WHICH HISTORY IGNORES

CHAPTER VI—ENJOLRAS AND HIS LIEUTENANTS

BOOK SECOND.—ÉPONINE

CHAPTER I—THE LARK’S MEADOW

CHAPTER II—EMBRYONIC FORMATION OF CRIMES IN THE INCUBATION OF PRISONS

CHAPTER III—APPARITION TO FATHER MABEUF

CHAPTER IV—AN APPARITION TO MARIUS

BOOK THIRD.—THE HOUSE IN THE RUE PLUMET

CHAPTER I—THE HOUSE WITH A SECRET

CHAPTER II—JEAN VALJEAN AS A NATIONAL GUARD

CHAPTER III—FOLIIS AC FRONDIBUS

CHAPTER IV—CHANGE OF GATE

CHAPTER V—THE ROSE PERCEIVES THAT IT IS AN ENGINE OF WAR

CHAPTER VI—THE BATTLE BEGUN

CHAPTER VII—TO ONE SADNESS OPPOSE A SADNESS AND A HALF

CHAPTER VIII—THE CHAIN-GANG

BOOK FOURTH.—SUCCOR FROM BELOW MAY TURN OUT TO BE SUCCOR FROM ON HIGH

CHAPTER I—A WOUND WITHOUT, HEALING WITHIN

CHAPTER II—MOTHER PLUTARQUE FINDS NO DIFFICULTY IN EXPLAINING A PHENOMENON

BOOK FIFTH.—THE END OF WHICH DOES NOT RESEMBLE THE BEGINNING

CHAPTER I—SOLITUDE AND THE BARRACKS COMBINED

CHAPTER II—COSETTE’S APPREHENSIONS

CHAPTER III—ENRICHED WITH COMMENTARIES BY TOUSSAINT

CHAPTER IV—A HEART BENEATH A STONE

CHAPTER V—COSETTE AFTER THE LETTER

CHAPTER VI—OLD PEOPLE ARE MADE TO GO OUT OPPORTUNELY

BOOK SIXTH.—LITTLE GAVROCHE

CHAPTER I—THE MALICIOUS PLAYFULNESS OF THE WIND

CHAPTER II—IN WHICH LITTLE GAVROCHE EXTRACTS PROFIT FROM NAPOLEON THE GREAT

CHAPTER III—THE VICISSITUDES OF FLIGHT

BOOK SEVENTH.—SLANG

CHAPTER I—ORIGIN

CHAPTER II—ROOTS

CHAPTER III—SLANG WHICH WEEPS AND SLANG WHICH LAUGHS

CHAPTER IV—THE TWO DUTIES: TO WATCH AND TO HOPE

BOOK EIGHTH.—ENCHANTMENTS AND DESOLATIONS

CHAPTER I—FULL LIGHT

CHAPTER II—THE BEWILDERMENT OF PERFECT HAPPINESS

CHAPTER III—THE BEGINNING OF SHADOW

CHAPTER IV—A CAB RUNS IN ENGLISH AND BARKS IN SLANG

CHAPTER V—THINGS OF THE NIGHT

CHAPTER VI—MARIUS BECOMES PRACTICAL ONCE MORE TO THE EXTENT OF GIVING COSETTE HIS ADDRESS

CHAPTER VII—THE OLD HEART AND THE YOUNG HEART IN THE PRESENCE OF EACH OTHER

BOOK NINTH.—WHITHER ARE THEY GOING?

CHAPTER I—JEAN VALJEAN

CHAPTER II—MARIUS

CHAPTER III—M. MABEUF

BOOK TENTH.—THE 5TH OF JUNE, 1832

CHAPTER I—THE SURFACE OF THE QUESTION

CHAPTER II—THE ROOT OF THE MATTER

CHAPTER III—A BURIAL; AN OCCASION TO BEBORN AGAIN

CHAPTER IV—THE EBULLITIONS OF FORMER DAYS

CHAPTER V—ORIGINALITY OF PARIS

BOOK ELEVENTH.—THE ATOM FRATERNIZES WITH THE HURRICANE

CHAPTER I—SOME EXPLANATIONS WITH REGARD TO THE ORIGIN OF GAVROCHE’S POETRY. THE INFLUENCE OF AN ACADEMICIAN ON THIS POETRY

CHAPTER II—GAVROCHE ON THE MARCH

CHAPTER III—JUST INDIGNATION OF A HAIR-DRESSER

CHAPTER IV—THE CHILD IS AMAZED AT THE OLD MAN

CHAPTER V—THE OLD MAN

CHAPTER VI—RECRUITS

BOOK TWELFTH.—CORINTHE

CHAPTER I—HISTORY OF CORINTHE FROM ITS FOUNDATION

CHAPTER II—PRELIMINARY GAYETIES

CHAPTER III—NIGHT BEGINS TO DESCEND UPON GRANTAIRE

CHAPTER IV—AN ATTEMPT TO CONSOLE THE WIDOW HUCHELOUP

CHAPTER V—PREPARATIONS

CHAPTER VI—WAITING

CHAPTER VII—THE MAN RECRUITED IN THE RUE DES BILLETTES

CHAPTER VIII—MANY INTERROGATION POINTS WITH REGARD TO A CERTAIN LE CABUC WHOSE NAME MAY NOT HAVE BEEN LE CABUC

BOOK THIRTEENTH.—MARIUS ENTERS THE SHADOW

CHAPTER I—FROM THE RUE PLUMET TO THE QUARTIER SAINT-DENIS

CHAPTER II—AN OWL’S VIEW OF PARIS

CHAPTER III—THE EXTREME EDGE

BOOK FOURTEENTH.—THE GRANDEURS OF DESPAIR

CHAPTER I—THE FLAG: ACT FIRST

CHAPTER II—THE FLAG: ACT SECOND

CHAPTER III—GAVROCHEWOULD HAVE DONE BETTER TO ACCEPT ENJOLRAS’ CARBINE

CHAPTER IV—THE BARREL OF POWDER

CHAPTER V—END OF THE VERSES OF JEAN PROUVAIRE

CHAPTER VI—THE AGONY OF DEATH AFTER THE AGONY OF LIFE

CHAPTER VII—GAVROCHE AS A PROFOUND CALCULATOR OF DISTANCES

BOOK FIFTEENTH.—THE RUE DE L’HOMME ARMÉ

CHAPTER I—A DRINKER IS A BABBLER

CHAPTER II—THE STREET URCHIN AN ENEMY OF LIGHT

CHAPTER III—WHILE COSETTE AND TOUSSAINT ARE ASLEEP

CHAPTER IV—GAVROCHE’S EXCESS OF ZEAL

VOLUME V—JEAN VALJEAN

BOOK FIRST.—THE WAR BETWEEN FOUR WALLS

CHAPTER I—THE CHARYBDIS OF THE FAUBOURG SAINT ANTOINE AND THE SCYLLA OF THEFAUBOURG DU TEMPLE

CHAPTER II—WHAT IS TO BE DONE IN THE ABYSS IF ONE DOES NOT CONVERSE

CHAPTER III—LIGHT AND SHADOW

CHAPTER IV—MINUSFIVE, PLUS ONE

CHAPTER V—THE HORIZON WHICH ONEBEHOLDS FROM THE SUMMIT OF A BARRICADE

CHAPTER VI—MARIUS HAGGARD, JAVERT LACONIC

CHAPTER VII—THE SITUATION BECOMES AGGRAVATED

CHAPTER VIII—THE ARTILLERY-MEN COMPEL PEOPLE TO TAKETHEM SERIOUSLY

CHAPTER IX—EMPLOYMENT OF THE OLD TALENTSOF A POACHER AND THAT INFALLIBLE MARKSMANSHIP WHICH INFLUENCED THE CONDEMNATION OF 1796

CHAPTER X—DAWN

CHAPTER XI—THE SHOT WHICH MISSES NOTHING AND KILLS NO ONE

CHAPTER XII—DISORDER A PARTISAN OF ORDER

CHAPTER XIII—PASSINGGLEAMS

CHAPTER XIV—WHEREIN WILL APPEAR THE NAME OF ENJOLRAS’ MISTRESS

CHAPTER XV—GAVROCHE OUTSIDE

CHAPTER XVI—HOW FROM A BROTHER ONE BECOMES A FATHER

CHAPTER XVII—MORTUUS PATER FILIUM MORITURUM EXPECTAT

CHAPTER XVIII—THE VULTURE BECOME PREY

CHAPTER XIX—JEAN VALJEAN TAKES HIS REVENGE

CHAPTER XX—THE DEAD ARE IN THE RIGHT AND THE LIVING ARE NOT IN THE WRONG

CHAPTER XXI—THE HEROES

CHAPTER XXII—FOOT TO FOOT

CHAPTER XXIII—ORESTES FASTING AND PYLADES DRUNK

CHAPTER XXIV—PRISONER

BOOK SECOND.—THE INTESTINE OF THE LEVIATHAN

CHAPTER I—THE LAND IMPOVERISHED BY THE SEA

CHAPTER II—ANCIENT HISTORY OF THE SEWER

CHAPTER III—BRUNESEAU

CHAPTER IV

CHAPTER V—PRESENT PROGRESS

CHAPTER VI—FUTURE PROGRESS

BOOK THIRD.—MUD BUT THE SOUL

CHAPTER I—THESEWER AND ITS SURPRISES

CHAPTER II—EXPLANATION

CHAPTER III—THE “SPUN” MAN

CHAPTER IV—HE ALSO BEARS HIS CROSS

CHAPTER V—IN THE CASE OF SAND AS IN THAT OF WOMAN, THERE IS A FINENESS WHICH IS TREACHEROUS

CHAPTER VI—THE FONTIS

CHAPTER VII—ONE SOMETIMES RUNS AGROUND WHEN ONE FANCIES THAT ONE IS DISEMBARKING

CHAPTER VIII—THE TORN COAT-TAIL

CHAPTER IX—MARIUS PRODUCES ON SOME ONE WHO IS A JUDGE OF THE MATTER, THE EFFECT OF BEING DEAD

CHAPTER X—RETURN OF THE SON WHO WAS PRODIGAL OF HIS LIFE

CHAPTER XI—CONCUSSION IN THE ABSOLUTE

CHAPTER XII—THE GRANDFATHER

BOOK FOURTH.—JAVERT DERAILED

CHAPTER I

BOOK FIFTH.—GRANDSON AND GRANDFATHER

CHAPTER I—IN WHICH THE TREE WITH THE ZINC PLASTER APPEARS AGAIN

CHAPTER II—MARIUS, EMERGING FROM CIVIL WAR, MAKES READY FOR DOMESTIC WAR

CHAPTER III—MARIUS ATTACKED

CHAPTER IV—MADEMOISELLE GILLENORMAND ENDS BY NO LONGER THINKING IT A BAD THING THAT M. FAUCHELEVENT SHOULD HAVE ENTERED WITH SOMETHING UNDER HIS ARM

CHAPTER V—DEPOSIT YOUR MONEY IN A FOREST RATHER THAN WITH A NOTARY

CHAPTER VI—THE TWO OLD MEN DO EVERYTHING, EACH ONE AFTER HIS OWN FASHION, TO RENDER COSETTE HAPPY

CHAPTER VII—THE EFFECTS OF DREAMS MINGLED WITH HAPPINESS

CHAPTER VIII—TWO MEN IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND

BOOK SIXTH.—THE SLEEPLESS NIGHT

CHAPTER I—THE 16TH OF FEBRUARY, 1833

CHAPTER II—JEAN VALJEAN STILL WEARS HIS ARM IN A SLING

CHAPTER III—THE INSEPARABLE

CHAPTER IV—THE IMMORTAL LIVER68

BOOK SEVENTH.—THE LAST DRAUGHT FROM THE CUP

CHAPTERI—THE SEVENTH CIRCLE AND THE EIGHTH HEAVEN

CHAPTER II—THE OBSCURITIES WHICH A REVELATION CAN CONTAIN

BOOK EIGHTH.—FADING AWAY OF THE TWILIGHT

CHAPTER I—THE LOWER CHAMBER

CHAPTER II—ANOTHER STEP BACKWARDS

CHAPTER III—THEY RECALL THE GARDEN OF THE RUE PLUMET

CHAPTER IV—ATTRACTION AND EXTINCTION

BOOK NINTH.—SUPREME SHADOW, SUPREME DAWN

CHAPTER I—PITY FOR THEUNHAPPY, BUT INDULGENCE FOR THE HAPPY

CHAPTER II—LAST FLICKERINGS OF A LAMP WITHOUT OIL

CHAPTER III—A PEN IS HEAVY TO THE MAN WHO LIFTED THE FAUCHELEVENT’S CART

CHAPTER IV—A BOTTLE OF INK WHICH ONLY SUCCEEDED IN WHITENING

CHAPTER V—A NIGHT BEHIND WHICH THERE IS DAY

CHAPTER VI—THE GRASS COVERS AND THE RAIN EFFACES

LETTER TO M. DAELLI

VOLUME I.—FANTINE.

PREFACE

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; so long as the three great problems of the century—the degradation of man through pauperism, the corruption of woman through hunger, the crippling of children through lack of light—are unsolved; so long as social asphyxia is possible in any part of the world;—in other words, and with a still wider significance, so long as ignorance and poverty exist on earth, books of the nature of Les Misérables cannot fail to be of use.

HAUTEVILLE HOUSE, 1862.

FANTINE

BOOK FIRST—A JUST MAN

CHAPTER I—M. MYRIEL

In 1815, M. Charles-François-Bienvenu Myriel was Bishop ofD—— He was anold man of about seventy-five years ofage; he had occupied the see of D—— since 1806.

Although this detail has no connection whatever with the realsubstance of what we are about to relate, it will not besuperfluous, if merely for the sake of exactness in all points, tomention here the various rumors and remarks which had been incirculation about him from the very moment when he arrived in thediocese. True or false, that which is said of men often occupies asimportant a place in their lives, and aboveall in their destinies,as that which they do. M. Myriel was the son of a councillor of theParliament of Aix; hence he belonged to the nobility of the bar. Itwas said that his father, destining him to be the heir of his ownpost, had married him at a very early age, eighteen or twenty, inaccordance with a custom which is rather widely prevalent inparliamentary families. In spite of this marriage, however, it wassaid that Charles Myriel created a great deal of talk. He was wellformed, though rather short in stature, elegant, graceful,intelligent; the whole of the first portion of his life had beendevoted to the world and to gallantry.

The Revolution came; events succeeded each other withprecipitation; the parliamentary families, decimated,pursued,hunted down, were dispersed. M. Charles Myriel emigrated toItaly at the very beginning of the Revolution. There his wife diedof a malady of the chest, from which she had long suffered. He hadno children. What took place next in the fate of M. Myriel? Theruin of the French society of the olden days, the fall of his ownfamily, the tragic spectacles of ‘93, which were, perhaps,even more alarming to the emigrants who viewed them from adistance, with the magnifying powers of terror,—did thesecause the ideas of renunciation and solitude to germinate in him?Was he, in the midst of these distractions, these affections whichabsorbed his life, suddenly smitten with one of those mysteriousand terrible blows which sometimes overwhelm, by striking to hisheart, a man whom public catastrophes would not shake, by strikingat his existence and his fortune? No one could have told: all thatwas known was, that when he returned from Italy he was apriest.

In 1804, M. Myriel was the Curé of B——[Brignolles]. He was already advanced in years, and lived in a veryretired manner.

About the epoch of the coronation, some petty affair connectedwith his curacy—just what, is not precisely known—tookhim to Paris. Among other powerful persons to whom he went tosolicit aid forhis parishioners was M. le Cardinal Fesch. One day,when the Emperor had come to visit his uncle, the worthy Curé,who was waiting in the anteroom, found himself present when HisMajesty passed. Napoleon, on finding himself observed with acertain curiosity by this old man, turned round and saidabruptly:—

“Who is this good man who is staring at me?”

“Sire,” said M. Myriel, “you are looking at agood man, and I at a great man. Each of us can profit byit.”

That very evening, the Emperor asked the Cardinalthe name of theCuré, and some time afterwards M. Myriel was utterlyastonished to learn that he had been appointed Bishop ofD——

What truth was there, after all, in the stories which wereinvented as to the early portion of M. Myriel’s life? No oneknew.Very few families had been acquainted with the Myriel familybefore the Revolution.

M. Myriel had to undergo the fate of every newcomer in a littletown, where there are many mouths which talk, and very few headswhich think. He was obliged to undergo it although he was a bishop,and because he was a bishop. But after all, the rumors with whichhis name was connected were rumors only,—noise, sayings,words; less than words—palabres, as the energetic language ofthe South expresses it.

However that may be, after nine years of episcopal power and ofresidence in D——, all the stories and subjects ofconversation which engross petty towns and petty people at theoutset had fallen into profound oblivion. No one would have daredto mention them; no one would havedared to recall them.

M. Myriel had arrived at D—— accompanied by anelderly spinster, Mademoiselle Baptistine, who was his sister, andten years his junior.

Their only domestic was a female servant of the same age asMademoiselle Baptistine, and named Madame Magloire, who, afterhaving beenthe servant of M. le Curé, now assumed the doubletitle of maid to Mademoiselle and housekeeper to Monseigneur.

Mademoiselle Baptistine was a long, pale, thin, gentle creature;she realized the ideal expressed by the word“respectable”; for it seems that a woman must needs bea mother in order to be venerable. She had never been pretty; herwhole life, which had been nothing but a succession of holy deeds,had finally conferred upon her a sort of pallor andtransparency;and as she advanced in years she had acquired what maybe called the beauty of goodness. What had been leanness in heryouth had become transparency in her maturity; and this diaphaneityallowed the angel to be seen. She was a soul rather than a virgin.Her person seemed made of a shadow; there was hardly sufficientbody to provide for sex; a little matter enclosing a light; largeeyes forever drooping;—a mere pretext for a soul’sremaining on the earth.

Madame Magloire was a little, fat, white old woman,corpulent andbustling; always out of breath,—in the first place, becauseof her activity, and in the next, because of her asthma.

On his arrival, M. Myriel was installed in the episcopal palacewith the honors required by the Imperial decrees, which classabishop immediately after a major-general. The mayor and thepresident paid the first call on him, and he, in turn, paid thefirst call on the general and the prefect.

The installation over, the town waited to see its bishop atwork.

CHAPTER II—M. MYRIEL BECOMES M. WELCOME

The episcopal palace of D—— adjoins thehospital.

The episcopal palace was a huge and beautiful house, built ofstone at the beginning of the last century by M. Henri Puget,Doctor of Theology of the Faculty of Paris, Abbé of Simore,who had been Bishop of D—— in 1712. This palace was agenuine seignorial residence. Everything about it had a grandair,—the apartments of the Bishop, the drawing-rooms, thechambers, the principal courtyard, which was very large, with walksencircling it under arcades in the old Florentine fashion, andgardens planted with magnificent trees. In the dining-room, a longand superb gallery which was situated on the ground floor andopened on the gardens, M. Henri Puget had entertained in state, onJuly29, 1714, My Lords Charles Brûlart de Genlis, archbishop;Prince d’Embrun; Antoine de Mesgrigny, the capuchin, Bishopof Grasse; Philippe de Vendôme, Grand Prior of France,Abbé of Saint Honoré de Lérins; François deBerton de Crillon, bishop, Baron de Vence; César de Sabran deForcalquier, bishop, Seignor of Glandève; and Jean Soanen,Priest of the Oratory, preacher in ordinary to the king, bishop,Seignor of Senez. The portraits of these seven reverend personagesdecorated this apartment; and this memorable date, the 29th ofJuly, 1714, was there engraved in letters of gold on a table ofwhite marble.