Manga Classics: Les Miserables

Okay...it's official. I am a fan of Manga Classics. This retelling of Les Mis is the third classic novel adaptation that I have read and really enjoyed. The first one I read (Pride & Prejudice Manga) was based on a story that I read and loved. The second book I came across was The Scarlet Letter Manga, a work I read but did not care for in its original format. This third work is based on the original (Les Miserables) that I started but never finished (although I have seen this work in other formats like film, theater, etc and I did appreciate those forms). I may even go back and give the Les Mis novel another try after reading this interpretation. The artwork is gorgeous and simplistic. The storyline stays pretty true to the classic version and it's a quick and easy read. A good way to introduced traditional readers to Manga. Great for YA or Manga fans or anyone who loves variations of the classics.

Net Galley Feedback

It was goid. Perhaps releasing books in this format will spark interest in the classics where otherwise kids may not read them.

*** Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author/publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review ***

Rating:4/5

Okay so out of the three Manga Classics that I requested from Netgalley this was my most anticipated one. I am obsessed with Les Miserable and I have watched every movie adaptation and musical out there. I have gone to see the musical in person in 2015 and I listen to the soundtrack regularly. I'm complete Les Mis trash XD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The only thing I haven't done is read the original work because it is a behemoth HOWEVER that doesn't mean that I never will. Its one of the only classics I still wish to read the original version of.

So you know that I had to listen to the 25th anniversary edition soundtrack while reading this and once the initial track came on I was in the zone. I opened the manga and instead of being in Toulon I was reading the back story of Fantine meeting the Mr.and Mrs. Thenardier. I was a bit taken aback at first but realized that this was a great way to start the story off too and it answered some questions about how Fantine met them. With my expectations now set that this was not going to be a manga version of the musical, I continued to read.

The art was of course beautiful and the overall plot was told well but it did introduce a side character that I never knew about which was Eponine's sister Azelma and it revealed Gavrosh as (view spoiler). I would have like to know more about both of these relationships in the book and maybe get a bit more overall background on the Thenardiers as a family. Of course doing so would have brought this manga to a page count I was anticipating it to be. I was honestly shocked that the the page count was shorter than 400 pages. Les Mis is like 1500 pages unabridged and to compress it to this size was probably no easy feat.

I throughly enjoyed this version of the story anyways and if they had added that information about the Thenardiers this would have been a 5 star read. I still think Les Mis is best enjoyed as a musical but this comes in as a close second. If you've seen the musical, tell me your fave character and song in the comments below.

Happy Reading

Jo

This is an amazing adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel! The author and artist have done a wonderful job keeping the mystery and intrigue with the twists and turns of this tale true to the story.
With that said please read the full length classic novel before/after reading this so you can see the creators entire vision. I have read several Manga Classics by Udon and they never cease to amaze and delight me. Using the Manga medium for these stories is genius and creates interest in reading the classics for younger generations. People that might otherwise forego reading a classic will give it a chance.

This story is about Jean Valjean, a convict who is given another chance in life even though a determined detective won't stop pursuing him.
Don't want to spoil anything but this is one of my favorite classic novels and I was very happy with this adaptation.

This was a really good manga adaptation of Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables. Having read the original book, listened to the musical and watched all the various adaptations, I really felt the soul of Les Mis in this manga. The artwork was absolutely brilliant and it was easy to read as a manga.

Après avoir lu The scarlet letter, dont je vous parlais ici, j'ai eu très envie de découvrir un autre classique avec ce support tellement différent!
J'ai toujours voulu lire la saga des Misérables, mais je ne sais pas pourquoi je ne me suis jamais lancée. Comme beaucoup, je connais l'histoire et certains évènements de cette oeuvre si célèbre. Pour autant, je n'ai jamais lu les livres.
Je me suis donc dit que ce manga tombait à pic lorsque je l'ai vu dans les propositions Netgalley.

Je remercie donc vivement Netgalley et Udon Entertainment de m'avoir permis de découvrir ce chef d'oeuvre!

J'ai adoré découvrir ces endroits de Paris qui me sont si familiers d'habitude, mais qui ici me paraissaient inconnus voire irréels.
Cette adaptation de l'oeuvre me permet de mieux découvrir et appréhender le décor de ces histoires si tragiques. L'histoire des célèbres Jean Valjean, de l'inspecteur Javert, de Fantine, Cosette et Marius notamment.
Plusieurs des scènes m'ont donné envie de pleurer, c'est vous dire à quel point ce manga est immersif!!
Cependant, il y a une chose qui m'a beaucoup frustrée dans cette adaptation: la rapidité avec laquelle on passait sur certaines scènes. Bien que le manga fasse 376 pages, j'aurais préféré que certaines scènes soient plus développées pour que l'on puisse mieux comprendre. Mieux comprendre le contexte politique, social, économique. Quitte à diviser les misérables en plusieurs tomes.
Toutefois, ce manga a été une très belle découverte et il me donne encore plus envie de découvrir l'histoire de tout ces personnages qui m'ont marquée ici.
En effet, plusieurs personnages m'ont marquée, que e soit de manière positive ou négative. Il y a des moments où je n'avais qu'une envie: entrer dans le manga, secouer certains personnages ou en tuer d'autres.

En conclusion, les Misérables est un beau manga qui, un fois de plus me donne envie de découvrir l'oeuvre originale.

Thanks to NetGalley and UDON Entertainment for the opportunity to read and review Manga Classics! Manga Classics include Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, which is true to the original classic with added cliffhangers to keep manga readers interested and eye-catching illustrations. After the story ends, the details of adaptation from classic literature to manga lets us see into the transformation. Each story in this collection follows these same guidelines! Impressive artwork and transformation!
Manga Classics also include The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling, Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne (the only color is the scarlet letter A, which makes striking illustrations!), Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, The Stories of Edgar Allan Poe: The Tell-Tale Heart, The Raven. The Cask of Amontillado, The Masque of the Red death and The Fall of the House of Usher; Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens and many more!
5 stars for books that make classics accessible and understandable to every reader!

I received Les Miserables from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Ever since I had seen the musical adaptation of Victor Hugo's Les Miserables, I really wanted to read the novel. The problem is... the novel is over 1000 pages. I felt so lucky to happen upon the manga adaptation of Les Miserables. It was like experiencing the novel as an appetizer. I have renewed my resolve to read Hugo's novel, eventually.
Les Miserables takes place in France during the French revolution. Amid the revolution, a Jean Valjean tries to protect himself and his daughter, Cosette from the relentless inspector Javert who will stop at nothing to put Valjean back in jail. Meanwhile, Cosette has fallen in love with Marius, the mysterious gentleman she often sees while on walks with her father. Marius is equally as enamoured with Cosette, but he has other obligations to the revolution.
As the novel is extremely long, the plotline is very complex with an array of characters. I was surprised how the manga was able to condense the events of the novel seamlessly without quickly speeding through the action of the revolution and the romance between Marius and Cosette.
I would recommend this manga to those, like me, who want to attempt to read Hugo's Les Miserables one day.

I've already purchased this book, and many others, for my classroom and my students love them! They also help me differentiate my lessons because my lower readers are able to still read these classics and gain some of that vocabulary instead of reading the "real" classic. This manga classic is true to the real classic and includes the most important details that would be in an abridged version of the book.

Keep publishing these books PLEASE!!

Such a sad story that turns into a heartwarming tale. Les Miserables in the form of a manga was very captivating. The way the poor girl and the mother were done in the story was heartbreaking, However, the gentleman in the story was so loyal and a wonderful protector. I really enjoyed the manga and felt that it was a very good read. I loved the artwork as well. The story had a lot of twists and turns and kept me entertained throughout the whole manga.

Was the original novel a bit much to digest? Were you depressed half-way in? Have you only seen the musical? Well! Manga Classics is your answer! You'll still be depressed, but the illustrations will distract you. Let's face it, Les Miserables is an amazing novel and masterpiece, but the message is sad though important. Manga Classic's version made it easier for me to re-read and enjoy. A+ to you!

So, I know this was a movie, and a musical, I believe, but I initially had no idea what it was about or any interest in the storyline.

We start our story with Fantine searching for honest work with her illegitimate child. Unable to find work, they leave to a small town called Montfermeil in rural France. In order for them to experience a better life, Fantine pays the Thenardiers to watch her darling Cosette.

Five years earlier, 1815, in Digne, Jean Valjean is released from prison after serving nineteen years for stealing a loaf of bread and is just looking for a nice, warm place to eat and sleep. However, no one in town is buying it and won’t give him the time of day. Bishop Myriel kindly lets him in. Blaming society for not being able to find honest work, his only means of survival turned to stealing, not only for himself, but his sister’s family, as well. Bad behavior strikes again when he steels the “silver”ware from the Bishop and gets caught by soldiers, but when turned in to the Bishop, the Bishop said they were a present to make Jean “an honest man”. And who does he end up being?! None other than the Mayor Madeleine of Monfermeil!

As the years go on, the Thenardiers request more and more money from Fantine and she slowly gives away parts of her body to keep her daughter well-kept. After a misunderstanding and Fantine is sentenced to jail, Valjean asks the townsfolk if what was said is true, and Fantine is declared innocent. At this point, Valjean makes it his life goal to deliver Cosette to her mother and help in every way he can to ensure a good life. But all too soon, someone else gets in the way.

Years and years later, when Cosette is older, Marius and her secretly covet each other without the other knowing. Marius, a young man, raised by his grandparents, dreams of thanking the man who saved his father’s life in the war, a man named Thenardier. But the Thenardiers are around and always have something up their sleeves.

After reading this manga, I want to see the movie now! What is great about these mangas is that they are light, leave out pointless description, and are fast reads! I really enjoy this one and am actually excited for the next one because I hated the book in high school.

Will Cosette and Fantine be reunited? Will Valjean stick with his promise? Will Valjean ever be able to live peacefully without Jalvert always on his back? Will anything happen between Cosette and Marius?

I would highly recommend this to school librarians and YA librarians to encourage older kids and teens to read the classics. The issue usually is not that the writing in these books is too hard to read, but that the stories carry the stigma of being dull and tedious. By presenting these classic tales in a way that readers can easily access and enjoy, the world of the classics is also opened. If you can enjoy the story in this format, there is nothing to stop you from the enjoying the original work!

I love when classics are turned in graphic novels. It allows students who may not be able to understand older language, or have the want to read such long books with fancy language, to experience a story. I like this series in the fact that they remain true to the story without making anything too glamorous or modern to attract readers. They let the story speak for itself.

I loved this book and think that it would be a good addition to any ELA library! This version makes the story so easy to understand that it would be sure to assist any struggling students. It is perfect for visual learners!

Thank you, NetGalley, for a complementary advance copy in return for an honest review!

I am soooooo glad that I applied for an ARC for this book!! I had been too scared to read Victor Hugo's original, but this manga has encouraged me to put it on my to-read list!!! It was a sad but heartwarming story. The art was fantastic even at low resolution. This was only my second manga, but my first novel-length one and it will not be my last!! I love graphic novels that make classics easier to digest for readers too scared to pick up the actual classic. It's also a great way to get younger readers interested in the classics.

These graphic novels by Stacy King and UDON Entertainment are a wonderful introduction to some of the world's greatest literature. The art is emotive and smart. The adaption is respectful of the original story. This artistic approach opens up the literature to an entirely new audience. Les Miserables is a tragic, sad and beautiful book and this graphic novel is a wonderful tribute to the original. If you have young people who refuse to look at the classics this would be a perfect way to give them a nudge.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the digital ARC in exchange for my review.

Manga Classics: Les Miserables by Crystal S. Chan, 337 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL
Udon Entertainment, 2014. $20.
Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Jean Valjean is an ex-convict, struggling to live a good life while still being pursued by his former prison guard. On the run, Valjean takes on many different roles, including father as he adopts an abused orphan. He becomes even more desperate to live well with his new daughter dependent on him, but can Valjean ever do enough to break free from his past?
Les Miserables is a classic, and it seems to me that the majority of people have seen the musical or have heard the plot line from others but few actually read the full story by Victor Hugo -- which is nearly 1500 pages long. This manga version makes the intimidating book more approachable and plants the desire to read through the original. With such a long story being told in the manga style, putting all the details in is impossible, and I found myself with a couple questions by the end, which a friend told me are addressed by the full book. So, no, this version is not perfect, but I mourned and rejoiced with the characters and found beauty in both the story and the illustrations.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

**Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this Manga on netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

I have tried to read manga all my life but have issues getting interested/involved with the story typically, which is why when I saw a manga based on a source material I loved I was immediately interested. This particular manga is a retelling of Les Miserables written by Victor Hugo in 1862.I love Les Miserables and have read it and seen the musical and movie adaptation several times.

Throughout this book I was blown away by the beautiful and detailed artwork and how, for the most part, the plot was told wonderfully. The only criticism I have is it feels that we may have too much world building/backstory for one part of the story and not enough for others. I also wasn't a huge fan of the blurbs told during time changes that quickly summarized what I felt to be very essential pieces of the story - but I do understand and appreciate that this was done in a way as to keep the manga at a good and reasonable length. That being said, if those parts of the story had been given a true chance I would have given this a 5 star.

While I love the original story and keep it near and dear to my heart - I have a newfound love for this version and its beautiful artwork. Had my minor grievances been handled differently in the plot point (though like I said, I get why it's like this) I would have loved it even more.

Les Misérables is one of my most favorite classics, so I was excited to read this one! Les Mis is the story of the convict, Jean Valjean, who had been imprisoned for nineteen years, solely because he stole bread to feed his starving family. After being released, he abandons his former life and creates a factory, bringing a town from poverty to prosperity. That is when we meet Fantine, a young woman doing everything in her power to care for her daughter Cossette, who is in the care of a crooked innkeeper and his wife, who swindle Fantine out of her money until she has nothing left.
The stories of both Jean Valjean and Fantine are tragic, but besides the horrors of poverty, Les Mis also illustrates the courage and selflessness of a man striving to live for God.
As I read each part of the story, songs from the musical kept swirling through my head. It was also fun to see some of the illustrations were similar to scenes from the movie adaptation, starring Hugh Jackman. Like the giant random elephant and the way the café was built. To be honest, I was kinda hoping that they would start singing Do You Hear the People Sing but of course, this is the adaptation of the book, and not the play.
Manga Classics: Les Misérables is a wonderful adaptation of the original classic, and it perfect for anyone who loves classics, tragic tales, or wants to read Les Mis without having to leaf through over five hundred pages.

NOTE: I received an ARC copy from the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have yet to reach for the original novel, but Les Misérables is something I've wanted to try reading for a long time. I've never watched or read any other type of adaptation either, because I wanted to read that massive novel without knowing too much about the plot. HOWEVER. The moment I saw that book cover pop up in my Netgalley feed I was sold. I had to try this out. And I loved every single page. I almost started reading the original novel right after finishing the manga.

I find the art to be absolutely lovely, I like how polished it is and let's be honest, without that beautiful Cosette on the cover I might have overlooked this title as I had other plans.
I cannot judge how close this manga is to the original story, as I've yet to read it, but something I usually feel while reading adaptations instead of the original version is a certain dullness, the feeling you're just touching the surface of the story and not going deeper. So I want to praise this adaptation because it actually impacted me in a profound way, and while I know it's not possible to adapt a 1400+ pages novel in a 337 pages manga without leaving out parts of it, I found myself emotionally involved in the story as I was reading. Overall it's been a very positive experience for me.

This was so goooood~!

Thank you so much to the publisher for first of all giving me this free copy and second of all blessing me with the beauty that this one is.

I absolutely adored this volume and I can't explain it. First of all I adore Les Misérables because c'mon that story is bom.com. But second of all I loveeeed the way they drew the characters. It was perfect in my opinion.

I find it a bit difficult to talk about the story since this volume followed it so well that I didn't have many remarks. The only thing I can say is that I thought some scenes could have taken a bit longer however then this manga would be thicker and they are probably not going for that.

I loved the art in this I thought it was so simply yet so complex at the same time. I absolutely adored this.

A big 5 star for this one.

I am a fan of the Broadway play Les Mis and am fond of the various movie and television adaptations. I always wanted to read the novel but was daunted by its size. I was excited to read this manga version of this classic tale. I think this is a great way for young readers to be introduced to classics in a less threatening and more appealing, visual way. While I was already quite familiar with the story, I enjoyed how it was adapted for this medium. The illustrations are delightful! I pictured the songs from the musical while reading each scene. I look forward to picking up more Manga Classics after this one.

My first experience of Udon Entertainment was Manga Classics: The Jungle Book, a real disappointment. So why do I feel differently about Les Misérables? The original Victor Hugo classic clocks in at nearly 1,400 pages. No young person would be able to handle that; I finally threw in the towel, and I was in my 50s at the time! Unlike The Jungle Book, whose language is accessible to tweens and teens, Les Misérables’ flowery language can be a stumbling block even for adults. A manga edition could make this beautiful tale of love and redemption, of different legal systems for rich and poor, of the inspiring Jean Valjean available to readers who would never otherwise be able to read it.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this graphic novel from NetGalley and Udon Entertainment in exchange for an honest review.