The Les Misérables Reading Companion

Welcome to the website for "The Les Misérables Reading Companion," where you'll find all the episodes of this podcast about Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, plus extras relating to what I've discussed there.

This page is a work in progress. Come back early and often for updates!

The comment function on this page was giving us trouble--comments disappearing, that sort of thing--so I've shut it off...

BUT DON'T BE DISCOURAGED! You can share your thoughts about the book on Facebook or Twitter at the links below.

I still very much look forward to reading your comments! (Unless you're a troll; I will exercise ruthless editorial authority when it comes to trolls!)

Ep45 - IV,13,i - IV,14,v - The Will to Die

Feb 5, 2019

What do our characters gain when they have nothing left to lose?

Episode 45 extras

Feb 5, 2019

Just one extra to offer you today: here again are the Google map and the 1830 map, if you want to trace Marius's route to the...

Ep44 - IV,12,i-viii - What Barricades are Made Of

Jan 23, 2019

We continue to explore what goes into a barricade.

Episode 44 extras

Jan 23, 2019

First, some pictures of barricades.

This page has a series of pictures of historical barricades built during various uprisings in Paris. It's a tradition that continues to this day.

And some pictures of how Hugo's barricade has been imagined:

Once Les Misérables came out, representations of the June Rebellion were...

Ep43 - IV,11,i-vi - How to Become a Revolutionary

Jan 8, 2019

Gavroche and Mabeuf join the cause.

Ep43 - IV,11,i-vi - How to Become a Revolutionary

Wanna help me pay for stuff?

It is, alas, not free to make and keep this available for you. Up-front costs included recording equipment, music, and a domain name, and Web hosting is a monthly expense. None of it is huge, but if you can help, I would be grateful.

If I find all my costs are covered and your generous donations continue to come in, I will donate the surplus. For now, I’ve selected the following charities, inspired by the early part of Les Misérables:

Partners in Health

Homeboy Industries

Polaris

I will keep this page updated as time goes on, each time I make a donation or a select a new charity to add to the list.

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