Which Translation of Les Misérables Should You Read?

📚 Read Les Misérables with Hardcore Literature: / about
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Happy reading!
Norman Denny 1976 translation: amzn.to/3rU1jl3
Christine Donougher 2013 translation: amzn.to/3fHSHLM
Charles E. Wilbour 1862 translation: amzn.to/3wt3Iqd

[@sonitagovan]

I have just finished reading Les Miserables. I feel like it was the perfect book for me to read at this time of my life. I feel like it's a text that came to me at the perfect time. My heart really needed it. I enjoyed the first translation followed by the third and the second was my least favourite. I am going to watch whatever TV and movie adaptations I can find for the next week or so. Thank you for this video. I hope someday to give it a second read with another translation.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

I love it when these books line up for us at the right time in our lives. Hugo's novel is definitely a heart-and-soul piece. A masterpiece of mercy and morality. You're exactly the kind of reader Hugo was writing for.

[@user-bb7vo7wt5s]

As some one who’s favourite book is les mis and deeply treasures it, this was extremely interesting. I have explained my opinion on all the translations below but in terms of the extract you read my opinions are as followed… I felt that the first one had more of a poetic feel that conveyed emotion. The second one was blunt and communicated the point of the extract quickly and effectively. The last one was a mixture of the two, while direct in its purpose it also had character and emotion. ~~~~~~~~~~ I have read (or attempted to) all the translations of les mis - some multiple times: from this I have narrowed down my favourites Wilbour, Hapgood and Donougher - of which each provides a different literary purpose to me. Wilbour is one of the most accurate in terms of a word for word translation from the original french (which I also have read). The 19th century feel that it captures, as well as being close to Hugo’s original language makes it a favourite. Hapgood - like Wilbour - also captures the 19th century feel, with the structure of sentence being closest to Hugo’s (e.g. punctuation nearly identical to were it falls in the original french) while maintaining the poetic language and flow of Hugo’s writing. It was also the first translation I read and understood, for me capturing the overall essence of the french Les Misérables. Donoughers translation is the one I go to for a ‘relaxed’ read. If I want to casually reread les mis I will use this translation. It’s quick to understand and does not require the dedication needed to deeply appreciate Hapgood/Wilbours translation. That said, I have edited my copy of Donougher, writing in the original french or my own translation in certain places, such as my favourite narrative plot points or particular beautiful sections of language that Hugo uses. In some place Donougher does - in my opinion - complete mistranslated some words (such as describing Enjolras as ‘capable of being fearsome.’ which from original french should translate to ‘capable of being terrible.’ which to me has a completely different implication). This being said Donougher is extremely effective to quickly read and enjoy, the informative notes are extremely helpful. As for why I dislike other translations: Wraxall - while enjoyable lacks for me the character of Hugo’s original work, Denny is overly blunt and harsh in my opinion and unnecessarily edits Hugo’s writing, Wilbour revised (Lee & Norman) is to modern for me and is easily overwhelmed by Donoughers in terms of a more easy read translation, Rose - while good for some people - made me feel almost uncomfortable and I did not end up finishing it as I found it was so modernised it lacked any feel of Hugo’s original work and serious passion at the state of society at the time. Overall I recommend the original french for those who can read it or are willing to learn, even it is just to cross reference to a translation to truly understand Hugo’s original intention in certain passages. If french is not accessible for you I would advise Wilbour for those who want a direct translation from Hugo for language, Hapgood who want a direct translation but with a more poetic style and language similar to Hugo’s original work, and Donougher for those who want an easier read but still the character of Hugo’s Les Mis.

[@MrGarysugarman]

Great thanks for providing just what I am always looking for to help decide - which starts with someone who's read the work in the original. Excellent detail.

[@floriandiazpesantes573]

The first version is my favourite. The best rhythm, almost a poem. The third comes close in parts but doesn’t keep the melody and scent through all lines. The second sounds a bit more sterile, like an essay. All three are good, my choice is purely subjective

[@floriandiazpesantes573]

I’ve ever read the book, neither in French, nor translated into my maternal language, German, and certainly not translated into English.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Amazing - thank you for weighing in! Your favourite is the newest translation, one well deserving of praise: the 2013 Christine Donougher :)

[@floriandiazpesantes573]

@@BenjaminMcEvoy before you revealed the translators I’d thought Donougher’s was the most ancient. Strange.

[@tywinderbaum5283]

​@@floriandiazpesantes573The same thing happened to me

[@jyotsnasawhney1245]

The first one, Christine donahue

[@melissahouse1296]

So glad i found this- *extremely* helpful especially for those who cant get out to peruse book shops. Its Denny for me.. closely followed by Wilbor then Donougher (the first two seem miles more soulful / poetic). Thanks : ))

[@bard8499]

I was struggling over which one to choose for a while, I ended up buying the Christine Donougher translation a couple weeks ago since it was in stock at my local shop. I enjoyed all three you read for different reasons, so I think I'll be ok with sticking with the translation I already have. Thanks for the great insight (:

[@bard8499]

I actually liked the Wilbur the best, so I'll probably pick that up for a future reread.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

I actually find it difficult to choose a favourite among them. Like you, I enjoy each for different reasons. I love Donougher, but then I pick up Denny and love his, then I love the older style poetry of Wilbur!

[@Scifiguy11th]

I do not know if I'll be crucified for this but I fell utterly in love with the Julie Rose edition.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

It's a good one :)

[@marjoriedybec3450]

For this small excerpt, and amoung these three, the Denny translation appealed to me, but I read the Isabelle Hapgood translation (1887) and I wish the same excerpt from her had been in your lineup. Hers is very poetic and read in the voice of the times but with a woman's sensitivity. This is one of my top 3 books of all time. It was a life-changing read for me. Q: Is Hunchback of Notre Dame as rich and important ?

[@jdfromparis6230]

Unless I missed it, here is the French version to compare it to: L’avenir arrivera-t-il ? il semble qu’on peut presque se faire cette question quand on voit tant d’ombre terrible. Sombre face-à-face des égoïstes et des misérables. Chez les égoïstes, les préjugés, les ténèbres de l’éducation riche, l’appétit croissant par l’enivrement, un étourdissement de prospérité qui assourdit, la crainte de souffrir qui, dans quelques-uns, va jusqu’à l’aversion des souffrants, une satisfaction implacable, le moi si enflé qu’il ferme l’âme ; chez les misérables, la convoitise, l’envie, la haine de voir les autres jouir, les profondes secousses de la bête humaine vers les assouvissements, les cœurs pleins de brume, la tristesse, le besoin, la fatalité, l’ignorance impure et simple. Faut-il continuer de lever les yeux vers le ciel ? le point lumineux qu’on y distingue est-il de ceux qui s’éteignent ? L’idéal est effrayant à voir, ainsi perdu dans les profondeurs, petit, isolé, imperceptible, brillant, mais entouré de toutes ces grandes menaces noires monstrueusement amoncelées autour de lui ; pourtant pas plus en danger qu’une étoile dans les gueules des nuages.

[@kelviannaepperson3677]

The second I love the most it was very lyrical how it flowed and the poetry. I can really feel like he put his heart in it.

[@biscuitlane4945]

Great video Ben! I’ve said previously that it’s my favourite novel and I stand by that. It encompasses so many universal themes and Hugo gives you so much for your buck (even if an ‘essay’ on Waterloo isn’t what you hoped for!). Indeed, I think if one can buy into and embrace Hugo’s digressions, the novel is even more satisfying. Clearly Hugo had little care for the strict discipline of novel writing and gave himself free scope to say as much as he wanted; unrestrained. It also makes the novel near impossible to binge, which I love. When I first read the novel, I vividly remember soaring through ‘Fantine’ and into ‘Cosette’ on the train from London back home to Huddersfield. I thought hang on, a hundred pages of this a day and I’ll be done in a month. Oh no, I think at one point 2 months had passed at one point and I hadn’t opened it - but the characters remained with me. Significantly, Billows and Shadows’ is up there with Act 4 scene 6 of King Lear, (Edgar and Gloucester at Dover) in regards to a piece of writing that absolutely emotionally drained me. Side note; I love the musical, however, it always amuses me personally seeing pages upon pages condensed into one song (I dreamed a dream). - James :)

[@biscuitlane4945]

I’ve read Denny and Donougher’s translations and love elements of both. Donougher’s is a very smooth read but I love Denny’s almost lyrical nature. I’m saving the Wilbour translation and waiting for the right moment as I believe my next read through of the novel will be seminal on my literary and ‘human’ journey.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Powerful comment!! Thanks so much, James. I wholeheartedly agree. Learning to read Hugo can be somewhat similar to learning to read Proust - they don't have the same consciousness-expanding effects, but their art is absolutely the art of the digression, the art of the tangent. If one submits, embraces and lets Hugo tell his story the way he wants, one is definitely in for a treat. As you allude to, the digressions ARE the story. Les Misérables wouldn't be Les Misérables if not for the social digressions, the long beautiful poetic ramblings on the guillotine and the different levels of society. I also soared through 'Fantine' and 'Cosette' and was thrilled at how quickly I would be able to eat up this thousand-plus-pager. Then the roadblock came. Putting it aside for some time and then returning to it made me love what was originally an obstacle all the more. I love the musical too - I know some hardcore Hugo appreciators don't, but it certainly moves me!

[@curlynoodle2929]

Hi Ben. I really enjoy these taster, comparison videos. I have to admit I was quite worried that I'd prefer a translation other than the one I've bought but phew, I picked Donougher which is the one I have. It's very smooth and readable. I actually couldn't pick between Denny and Wilbour, both good for different reasons! Sharon x

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Great news, Sharon! You've already got the perfect one for you :) I agree, Donougher's translation is very smooth. Talented translator - she's won translation prizes and has done Italian along with French!

[@curlynoodle2929]

@@BenjaminMcEvoy wow has she? We seem to have some great contemporary translators coming to the fore; Rosamund Bartlett and Christine Donougher. Hopefully it will encourage people to try these gorgeous big reads and feel less intimidated by them. X

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

@@curlynoodle2929 Absolutely agree! I could throw Emily Wilson into the mix too. I was dipping into her Odyssey translation last night! Incidentally, I think getting the Rosamund Bartlett for my mother has helped get her into AK.

[@franciscorodriguez6396]

Thank you! I read the book back when I was stationed in Korea. I really enjoyed it, but I can't remember which translation I read. Anyway, I now have the translation by Donougher and the one by Wilbour. I started reading the Donougher translation last week, but I've found it boring. I will be switching to the Wilbur translation.

[@Dorine9]

This video has been really helpful for me. I read this wonderful novel when I was around the age of 12. That time I read the translation in my native language. This was the first novel that touched me on a deep level, and the first novel that made me cry when I finished it. 20 years have passed since then but I still think about it and want to revisit the story and the characters. This year will be the time to finally read this masterpiece in English which might not be my native language but the language of my heart. I can give my impression about the 3 translations as a non-native speaker of the language. Interestingly the first translation affected me the most and felt it the most poetic but I equally feel drawn to the third translation as well. Translation number 2 was also nice to listen to but for some reason it had not the same affect on me. (I am just making my opinion based on that tiny extract, who knows what my opinion would be if I read the whole book.) Actually, I have the Isabelle Hapgood translation. The three translations you read set the bar really high, I hope that Hapgood's translation will meet my expectations. If not now I know which translations I can turn to.

[@katrinaKJB1611]

I loved the Denny translation. Which makes sense. I've come to a realization that I don't get on too well with poetry. The straightforward language always sits in my mind better. Which may explain my love for non-fiction/ historical books. Haha

[@dorothysatterfield3699]

I gave the first one 4 stars, the second 3.5, and the last one only 2. I think the earliest translation rendered the French too literally. The Donougher translation seems both more poetic and more natural. For example, the last phrase regarding the star and cloud -- Denny and Wilbour both use the image of a star "in the jaws of a cloud," whereas Donougher speaks of a star "swallowed up by a cloud." I suppose Hugo must have used the French for "jaws," so Denny and Wilbour can be said to be more faithful to the text, but "swallowed up" seems truer to English idiom.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Beautiful input. Thank you so much, Dorothy. You have some really nuanced, refined, aesthetic sensibilities :)

[@KingCrusoe]

I just started the Christine Donougher translation (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition specifically) of Les Mis yesterday, and I've already read 15% of it - in just 2 days. It's come as such as a surprise to me. I didn't think I'd be moving through this even Half this fast. I think this translation is just brilliant so far. Nary a sentence I've read that has been distracting - only a handful of chapter titles feel off. I have just been having a wonderful time thus far - and I was very weary and nervous about starting, not wanting to DNF it. Although I haven't read the other translations, and I'm obviously biased - I think anybody intimidated by it, and especially for younger people like myself, should try out the Donougher translation. It doesn't counter the authenticity of the novel's age, nor does it counter the impact of that, but also doesn't sacrifice the readability to make itself as a translation feel archaic. For modern readers, I believe it is brilliant (at least up through the end of Part One.)

[@KingCrusoe]

@@babbisp1 No, actually! Read the whole thing from Nov. 1-31 2022, and it currently resides tied for #1 book of all time 🙂

[@Raisincelery]

I think my favourite is the second, easiest for me to pay attention to. The first one felt a bit like white noise with its words, lots of poetry but lacks the strong words and soft messages that make me pay attention but doesn’t scream at me. The third felt really literal, lots of meaning in the words but not as much in between them. The second gave really strong words but still left the meaning in between them, it was nice to read. They all sound good though. But yeah, I think I’ll choose the second. Edit: NEVERMIND I just found it is somewhat abridged lol. I think I’ll get the third one (the og). I want to read this book in full. BRING ON THE FRENCH SEWER SYSTEMS.

[@groofay]

I'm about to embark on Les Miserables for the first time, and was rather surprised to find I was most drawn to Wilbour in this video--which is lucky, as that's the translation I just found in a thrift store yesterday.

[@publicdomainblaine]

great vid, thanks man!

[@maninironmask7925]

Been watching your videos and they yield a lot of value, I think your videos would benefit from using a good microphone, perhaps a lavalier mic since you like to film standing, though any relatively entry level, good quality mic would do. There's just always a very audible crackling of grey, sibilant noise in the background. Obviously if you keep doing what you're doing they will still be great videos, just the audio would increase their watchability extremely and in all reality it's sorta a selfish request, since I enjoy your voice, accent and mind so much. Anyway, just a tip. Thanks for all the time, effort and love you put into these.

[@duromusabc]

I have the Fahnestock 1987 translation- very good version I own the Signet classic paperback 1987 edition by Fahnestock with the iconic Broadway picture of Cossette on the front cover (the year Les Mis was promoted in Broadway in Manhattan)

[@danielhatlang4206]

On my, oh my.... This video is really helpful. Thank You. So Much.

[@1siddynickhead]

Pls do this for War and Peace too! I liked the Donougher translation although I read the Denny translation when I read it. While I loved ideas in the book the endless digressions really reduced my enjoyment of the book. I'm wondering if I should given it another go.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Can do! I'm thinking this has now become a fun little series :) Completely relate with not being able to stick with the endless digressions. On my first read through, I got to the Waterloo bit and abandoned it for a LONG time. Definitely worth giving it another go though :)

[@1siddynickhead]

@@BenjaminMcEvoy yup, I think so too. Yes, your blind tasting of translations is a really cool concept and a great help for readers looking to pick up these tomes:) Thanks for continuing to do them!

[@BAJZERTproductions]

Hey! I recognize this was posted a while ago but I wanted to chime in: I finished reading the Anthony Briggs translation of War and Peace a couple weeks ago and enjoyed it a great deal. The prose was rather accessible and Tolstoy’s digressions read as being remarkably lucid and unencumbered by pretentious language. Briggs’ use of English slang amongst the serfs/peasants remains controversial (I had no issue with it), as does the elimination of French text (something I admittedly missed, given its importance as a literary device in the original Russian), but I found it to be a really great read overall! Hope this helps if you ever chose to pick up the Tome again!

[@1siddynickhead]

@@BAJZERTproductions hi! Thank you for replying! I should have been clearer in my comment. I've read War and Peace (Ann Dunnigan translation) and enjoyed it very much but I was asking Ben to do a video on the different translations for it the same. The dissatisfaction I was referring to was with Les Miserables edition I read (Denny) and it's poor translation. I have no issue with Tolstoy's digressions but found Hugo's deviations from the main plot really distracting. Anyways, thank you!

[@adriennevandyk76]

It would be nice if the comments allowed us to comment back to particular individuals whose insights particularly interested us. I am now joining this book club because l love classic literature, yet also in the hope of finding kindred spirits who become friends .

[@annetteholman2999]

You just inspired me to read LES MISERABLES for the first time, and I am enraptured. As a fast reader, I am trying to decelerate: the characters, the scenery, the philosophical musings are so richly detailed I want to savor them. I am in awe of the encyclopedic knowledge of Victor Hugo, from the political events to the minutiae of fads and fashions of daily life in Paris 1817 Thank you for inspiring me and for your enthusiasm for deep and meaningful reading.

[@jundiamerican]

Thank you!

[@julielynn86]

Thank you for doing this! Excellent! I much preferred the first. I think it's gorgeous! I'm reading this book now; I began with Isabel Hapgood and then switched to Christine Donougher's. The book fills my soul with its beauty!

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

You're very welcome, Julie :) Thank you for sharing your favourite. Nice choice!

[@julielynn86]

@@BenjaminMcEvoy I only just subscribed to your channel. Yay. PS. Nice selection to read and wonderful reading!

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

@@julielynn86 Thank you :)

[@HuntsmanWTF]

Is the Hapgood one bad or difficult to read?

[@allen4188]

Where's that passage from, in the book? Which chapter please?? 🙏

[@liam1558]

i like both the first one and the second one

[@DavidJLevi]

I'm currently reading the Denny translation. I'm just over 100 pages in to it. The prose is excellent, very enjoyable, and the story is totally gripping.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Nice one!! I'm so thrilled you're enjoying it :) I love the Denny so much!

[@mikedl1105]

I've read the Fahnestock and MacAfee version twice and I absolutely love it. It was a fantastic experience! While I am interested in different translations, Les Mis is a big undertaking and I would hate to hurt the experience by choosing a "worse" translation for my third read through. Thanks for the video and the comparisons

[@elowise6763]

I'm a teen and getting ready tonread Les Mis, I already own the Donougher version and am relieved to see in the comments that it is both a faithful yet not overly complicated read!

[@bcrockett7052]

I think I'm going to pick up the Denny translation. Thanks!!!

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Very nice :)

[@theDENIMMAN]

I've read the Denny translation cover to cover twice so I thought it would for sure end up my favourite...in fact it ended up my lowest ranked of the three with the original translation hitting me much better

[@adriennevandyk76]

I have for many years insisting that people choose the Norman Denny translation as head and shoulders so much better than any you might pick up off a book-store shelf and browse in. When I learned recently that there is a new translation only a few years old that is highly recommended I knew I had to obtain it. And today is the day I looked for it to order it. I have to say that I concurred with every word you said today. Please advise me the best translation of Don Quixote so I can jump right in to your book club. Whatever translation it was that I’d obtained, I was enraptured by the first two pages, then so disheartened by the next few pages that I never continued

[@exploringwithasmr]

Is the Julie Rose translation considered good? That's the one I have.

[@someonesane1]

I'm reading the Wordsworth classics one..and wierdly they've not mentioned the translator (atleast i couldn't find it anywhere) anywhere in the book.. Is it translated by wilbour..

[@user-xf1we9lm1e]

Yes the Wordsworth Classics edition, which comes in two volumes, is translated by Wilbour :)

[@DressyCrooner]

@@richarddelanet Mine says Motteux did it.

[@tywinderbaum5283]

I thought, before watching this video, that I should probably steer away from the first translation, the oldest one, since English is not my first language. But damn me, that's the one I enjoyed most.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Very nice! That's the one for you then :) Happy reading, my friend.

[@henkaipan8]

5:56 8:11 10:07 12:23

[@mrve1]

I purchased 0:45 it today, don't know when I'm gonna muster up the courage to start reading it as I never attempted to read a book 1000+ pages long before. But I'm dying to find out what the story is about..

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Very nice! Hugo's brick definitely does require some courage. My version has 1,200 pages... Gulp. But it is tremendous, especially the parts with Jean Valjean and Javert. Let me know what you think :)

[@LuvLuke954]

Does anyone have an opinion on the Fahnestock and MacAfee translation? I read an excerpt comparing 9 versions and though I am not a fan of Signet Classics on the whole, I really enjoyed this excerpt most. Denny is accused of too much editing; Wilbur is way too archaic for me and Donougher is too modern. Any thoughts?

[@nicolsonyumnam992]

What is nuon ...sense and meaning

[@michaelmyers7064]

Would you do a taste test of Crime and Punishment?

[@lenavoguelenavogue5400]

But where can you get the Wilbur version? Is it still in print? I cannot seem to find it.

[@ajmalnazar2627]

Everyman's library classics

[@Michajeru]

I don't know why, but I liked the 3rd one the most.

[@mangalapalliv]

Dear Sir: Many thanks for these great videos of yours.... As a person who is learnig to wet his feet in the vast great pool of world literature your videos have been a great guide.... Thanks a lot.... I will buy the Wilbur one if it is available on Amazon....else Norman Denny's. A quick update: Bought Norman Denny....

[@eltongigsandmusicalproject3917]

Favorite one is the Abridged version published by Ballantine Books. Just got this with my Christmas money. Currently in a part. You should read this because this translation is revised, excluding lengthy discussions and more, but not the very important points which make the book. The book also has parts, Fantine, Cosette, Marius, Saint and Idyl Denis Of the Rue Plumet, and Jean Valjean. I'm currently in the Fantine part. This is the best edition. Should buy it.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Very cool - and wonderful present to buy with that Christmas money :) Thank you for the recommendation, I'll check it out!

[@eltongigsandmusicalproject3917]

@@BenjaminMcEvoy usually the book is 1,000 pages but I got saved without lengthened pages, and the edition is 350+ pages.

[@joeclark6101]

I liked 3. Not sure why.

[@fordc1874]

“After Dinner Philosophy” - “you great lords have, you say, a philosophy of your own, for your special benefit-exquisite, refined, accessible to the rich alone; Good with all sauces 😂, admirably seasoning the pleasures of life”. Winner is Wilbour!! Denny didn’t capture this at all. Looked at the French and Wilbour captures it. Would have been disappointed if I only read Denny on passages like this! What do you all think?

[@szewaichor7990]

So which one is your favourite?

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

I'm personally leaning towards the Norman Denny :)

[@Daemon_9]

The 3rd Translation 💙

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Very nice! :)

[@sehomecanoe]

Julie Rose! Who’s with me?

[@SplashyCannonBall]

I would probably do 2 or 1 in that order. I go off how I speak.

[@jeremybreneman4508]

The MacAfee as it was my understanding this was the best.

[@LuvLuke954]

This is the one I am wanting to get, based on a comparison of excerpts I read. Thank you for your comment!

[@Pandas_and_Books]

Um... “There are passages of mediocrity and banality in Les Miserables, as in all his work, which may cause the reader to lose all patience with him and put the book aside…The translator can, I maintain, do something to remedy these defects…He can ’edit’ -that is to say abridge, tone down rhetoric, even delete.” - Norman Denny, Introduction to Les Miserables

[@allonewurld]

He does seem very critical of Hugo tbh

[@RodinRaskol]

This is the one of the reason I avoided the Norman Denny translation.

[@racheldilbert3108]

1962 1st

[@user-bo9mi1dd9v]

I liked the one you read first.

[@amandaheaton3763]

I had no idea that translations of fictional books exist?! It's obvious now. I know there are loads of translations of the bible so I should have guessed. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I obviously just assumed they were all written by English speaking men🙄