Is Les Misérables worth reading?

1,232 pages. That’s almost as long as the Bible. 36 hours. That’s like watching The Lord of the Rings trilogy three times in a row. Reading Les Misérables clearly requires a lot of commitment, but why is it so deserving of it?

Closing this book felt like completing a marathon… not that I know what that feels like, but I’m sure it’s something similar. Not only was it one of the hardest books to hold, being so incredibly thick, but the pages were also so thin they might as well have been made of air. Mentally, physically, emotionally, and possibly spiritually (I think I aged five years by the time I finished it), Les Misérables was one of the hardest books I’ve ever read… but also one of the best.

To ensure I would never give up on this mammoth of a book, I set myself a challenge to read no less than 50 pages a day; that would mean completing the entire book in just over three weeks. I didn’t exactly keep to my schedule, but after 33 days I shut the book with the same satisfaction I had when I passed my driving test for the first time. I’d never felt more free.

I am somewhat of a superfan of Les Misérables. I’ve watched the West End show twice, been to watch it in concert, and have watched the film more times than I can count. The book, however, is something I’ve always avoided. After an embarrassing failed attempt in the past, I decided to give it another go. Not hard to spot in the bookshop, taking up so much room on the shelf, I picked the book up and plonked it down on the cashier’s desk with probably a bit too much confidence. I kid you not, she took one look at the book, looked me dead in the eye and simply said good luck. A whopping £25 later, I knew failure was not an option this time around.

Exploring themes of revolution, poverty, equality, human rights, suffering, and religion, Hugo’s style was tragically beautiful

For those of you who are familiar with the story from the musical or the film, the book is very similar… just longer. It follows the life of Jean Valjean, an ex-convict trying to live a redeemed life while navigating love, suffering, revolution, and the lives of those around him in 19th-century France. He is constantly pursued by the unlikeable Inspector Javert whilst at the same time tasked with the responsibility of raising Cosette, an orphan girl.

Victor Hugo’s writing was outstanding, and it’s easy to see why. Hugo was a French Romantic author, poet, essayist, playwright, and politician, with a literary career that spanned more than sixty years – he’s experienced, I’ll give him that. The way he articulated the themes of the book felt way ahead of its time (he started writing the book in 1845) and arguably way ahead of our time too. I don’t think there is a contemporary author who even comes close to achieving his level of writing. Exploring themes of revolution, poverty, equality, human rights, suffering, and religion, Hugo’s style was tragically beautiful. Here is just a brief glimpse into his mastery:

“Yes, the brutalities of progress are called revolutions. When they are over, what we recognise is this: the human race has had a rough time, but it has advanced”

– a reflection on the paradox of revolutions (violence, suffering, destruction vs advancement, change and progress).

“The oppressed do not look behind them. They know only too well the ill fate that dogs them”

– Jean Valjean reflecting on his own transformation and empathising with the suffering of others, especially the poor and marginalised.

“The failings of women, children, and servants, of the feeble, the destitute and the ignorant, are the fault of their husbands, fathers, and masters, of the strong, the rich and the learned”

– a direct social critique from Hugo himself. The failings of the most vulnerable people are the results of a society structured to keep them oppressed.

See what I mean? It’s heavy-going, and it will take a while for your brain to adapt to this level of detail, but it’s stunning, almost hypnotic. Every time I closed the book, I felt even more educated than when I’d picked it up. It wasn’t just an inspiring tale about a man seeking redemption, it was a politics, history, sociology, religion, and philosophy lesson all wrapped up in one. The novel takes place in the aftermath of the Battle of Waterloo, during a period called the Restoration. While the characters are figures of Hugo’s own creation, the world in which he puts them is entirely real.

Similarly, the ‘Les Amis de l’ABC’, a completely fictitious group of young revolutionaries composed of characters like Enjolras, Marius, and Combeferre, are arguably a fairly accurate portrayal of similar groups that existed in Paris at the time of the June rebellion, an anti-monarchist uprising in 1832. By framing historical events through the lens of fiction, Hugo allows his readers to understand complex social issues through the personal and emotional journeys of his characters. This makes lessons of the past much easier to understand, as they are made to feel more relevant and relatable to the reader.

So, let’s come back to the question that everyone asks themselves before reading this book. Is Les Misérables worth reading? My answer? Absolutely. Yes, it’s intimidating to look at. Yes, it will take you a while. But, upon finishing, you will get a sense of satisfaction that you have never felt before. Not only will a heavy weight lift off your shoulders, but you’ll also gain so much. The characters you’ll meet, from the inspiring Jean Valjean to the relentless Javert, will teach you so much about humanity, society, and morality, inviting you to think critically about justice, power, and compassion. So, if you’re ready to invest the time and mental energy, I’d say go for it!