The Book that Changed Susan Carland: Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables

WheelerCentre
WheelerCentre
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Publicado 2016-03-22
At the 2016 Gala Night of Storytelling, Australian studies researcher Susan Carland shares the story of the book that changed her life: Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables.

‘I don’t remember the first time I read [Victor Hugo’s] Les Miserables, but what I do remember is how deeply a particular scene in the book affected me. It’s an exchange between two characters that was so unexpected and such an example of how someone can exemplify audacious grace, that I couldn’t stop turning it over in my head for days afterwards. Even now, I often reflect on that moment and what I can learn from it.’ In the scene, Jean Valjean steals silverware from a kindly bishop. When Valjean is apprehended and brought back to the bishop, the bishop lies, telling the men that that the silverware was a gift he gave to Valjean, and that the thief should be freed. ‘So much of the way that we deal with each other is about revenge … it’s about knee-jerk responses and reminding people who’s the boss … We live in a time when very few of our heroes are remarkable for their audacious grace. Rarely do they exemplify a better way of living – a better way of being – for us to look up to.’
Todos los comentarios (21)
  • @molotovmafia2406
    I love Les Miserables. It's my new favourite book and it learned me to show kindness to everyone, even the bad people. Which I rarely do, because I'm very proud. Les Mis is a 2000 page brick of inspiration.
  • @lamamapanda9868
    This book impacted me as well, same scene. Same impact. Just incredible.
  • @dennisweikel2566
    Bravo, thank you for so eloquently describing why les Miserables is one of the best novels of all time.
  • @miralabualjadail4206
    "Comme s’il pressentait que son heure était proche, Grave, il ne faisait plus à personne un reproche ; Il marchait en rendant aux passants leur salut ; On le voyait vieillir chaque jour, quoiqu’il eût À peine vingt poils blancs à sa barbe encor noire ; Il s’arrêtait parfois pour voir les chameaux boire, Se souvenant du temps qu’il était chamelier." Victor Hugo on the prophet Mohammed Peace be upon him.
  • @angelawebb7676
    This is why classic novels should still be taught in school. We learn via stories, parables, songs, etc. Instead of making more arbitrary and “broad stroke” laws, allow lessons in morality to be extracted from stories. This scene and lesson from Les Miserables could be applied in several aspects of our current society that would thing so much better for so many. Sigh In the meantime, I’ll start with myself. Be the change, right?
  • @mohamedmartin6914
    اللهم صل وسلم على محمد وآل محمد عدد ما ذكره الذاكرون وعدد ما غفل عن ذكره الغافلون ... 💕💕💕
  • @barbaroslar2235
    there was a story about a muslim scholar house get broke in by a robber, the muslim scholar help him to take the thing in his own house and say if you need anything else just come again and ask me, i will help you as i can, i think you must be so poor that you have to become a robber. the robber stop stealing that day.