Out of the Revolution

I have finished the section on Waterloo and how it connects to Cosette and the Thernadieres, Mr. Thernadier being one of the robbers of the dead after the war. Cosette and Jean Valjean have once again escaped the clutches of Javert and are hiding inside a convent. A very weird convent of which it is easier to read then describe. I think this is why it is not shown in the movie, or why we did not discuss as a class.

Anyway I am in a new section Part 3 Marius. Book one in this section is all about the street urchins of Paris, it is very descriptive and almost makes you want to be one of the carefree ones with no chores, except to make some coin for food or play five finger discount. I am sure this is where we will be introduced to the Thernadiers son who is a non-entity, he was described as a baby who kept crying in the last section. The Missus was all about her girls and did nothing for her son, I am not sure how he survived but we are several years into the future from Part 2 where he was first brought into play.

         This almost puts me half-way through the book. YEAH. With this cold and flu I am able to     read, so who knows when I will finish. Pleasant journeys and be happy to be part of a family.

Battle of Waterloo

Who knew, not me, that there was so much information about the battle of Waterloo and surrounding areas in the book Les Miserables. I am part two of the book entitled Cosette and the first book in this section is entitled Waterloo. It is about 45 pages long going into detail about the battlefield and the plans of Napoleon, number of people who died, etc.  Anyway,not sure where this is going, being that Cosette was born about two years after this battle. I guess if you want to study the battle of Waterloo, then I would also look at this section in the book. Makes me want to find it.

Historians there are monuments including the place mentioned in Les Miserables called Hougemont. In fact on the website for this and other monuments in the area, is a notation about the fact that there are two chapters in Les Miserables that mention this battle. So new things to learn everyday.

Les Miserables a beginning.

I have started the book, Les Miserables, and I realized that my French teacher back in high school, only had us read the parts about Jean Valjean in class. I have seen the movie and we were given the general gist of the book in class, but there is a so much backstory that we did not read in class. Anyway, I am at the pass the part where Fantine has given her daughter to people she thought she could trust and back with Jean Valjean being the benefactor for the M and M district. Though they have not said that it is Jean because he did not show his papers when he was being a hero. Though it is inferred by the way he was dressed and his desire not to be given titles.

I love getting the backstory and can put things in better perspective. I liked the movie but I did not realize how Fantine became with child and what drove her to leave her child with the Thenardiers. Where did the young men and women go that were with Fantine in the book, but I do not recall those scenes in the movie. Anyway, still lots to read.