Show notes
Season 3 Episode 6 "Les Misérables" is a renowned novel written by French author Victor Hugo. Published in 1862, it is considered one of the greatest literary works of the 19th century. The story is set in early 19th-century France and follows the lives of several characters as they navigate themes of justice, redemption, love, and revolution.The plot revolves around the life of Jean Valjean, an ex-convict who is relentlessly pursued by Inspector Javert. Valjean, having served a lengthy prison sentence for stealing a loaf of bread, strives to escape his criminal past and live a righteous life. Along the way, he encounters various individuals, including the destitute Fantine and her daughter Cosette, who becomes a central figure in Valjean's life.As the narrative unfolds, "Les Misérables" delves into the social and political turmoil of the time, including the June Rebellion of 1832. The novel explores the stark divide between the rich and the poor, highlighting the struggles and sacrifices made by those on the margins of society. Victor Hugo's work paints a vivid picture of the human condition and serves as a powerful critique of social injustice and the impact of poverty.The radio presentation of "Les Misérables" through the "Lux Theater" took place on February 22, 1943. The adaptation of Victor Hugo's epic novel was written by Orson Welles and starred him in the role of Jean Valjean. The radio play condensed the extensive storyline of the novel, capturing the essence of the characters and their journeys. The "Lux Theater" production brought the emotional depth and social commentary of "Les Misérables" to the radio audience, showcasing the enduring power of Hugo's masterpiece."Les Misérables" is a renowned novel written by French author Victor Hugo. Published in 1862, it is considered one of the greatest literary works of the 19th century. The story is set in early 19th-century France and follows the lives of several characters as they navigate themes of justice, redemption, love, and revolution.The plot revolves around the life of Jean Valjean, an ex-convict who is relentlessly pursued by Inspector Javert. Valjean, having served a lengthy prison sentence for stealing a loaf of bread, strives to escape his criminal past and live a righteous life. Along the way, he encounters various individuals, including the destitute Fantine and her daughter Cosette, who becomes a central figure in Valjean's life.As the narrative unfolds, "Les Misérables" delves into the social and political turmoil of the time, including the June Rebellion of 1832. The novel explores the stark divide between the rich and the poor, highlighting the struggles and sacrifices made by those on the margins of society. Victor Hugo's work paints a vivid picture of the human condition and serves as a powerful critique of social injustice and the impact of poverty.The radio presentation of "Les Misérables" through the "Lux Theater" took place on February 22, 1943. The adaptation of Victor Hugo's epic novel was written by Orson Welles and starred him in the role of Jean Valjean. The radio play condensed the extensive storyline of the novel, capturing the essence of the characters and their journeys. The "Lux Theater" production brought the emotional depth and social commentary of "Les Misérables" to the radio audience, showcasing the enduring power of Hugo's masterpiece.Books in Sound is a free podcast series that presents a collection of hundreds of the world’s greatest books through the magic of the performing arts.Different from audiobooks: Instead of having a single narrator read an audiobook, these performances have a full cast of actors, suitable background music, and special effects that help define the drama.Most presentations are from old time radio theater broadcasts that have been remastered to remove most of the hissing, clicking and volume fluctuations. Many of the presentations are from the 1930's and 1940's, so a significant amount of work went into the remastering process.Most presentations are about one hour, some are multiple hours, and some are abbreviated presentation that last about half an hour, making this series wonderful for bedtime stories, self-improvement by learning about literature, or simply as a very imaginative form of entertainment.The episodes are not sequential, but we do recommend listening to the complete collection starting with the first episode so that you can grow and benefit from the wide assortment of styles and content.For more information visit https://www.booksinsound.com