De Ellendigen

Hugo, Victor, 1802-1885Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.9

Word count: 619K words
Chapters: 62

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.De Ellendigen (Deel 1 van 5) by Victor HugoAuthor: Hugo, Victor, 1802-1885,Language: Dutch, Class: PQ: Language and Literatures: Romance literatures: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Release Date: Sep 5, 2011

Editor's review

This is the first part of the Dutch translation of Hugo's Les Misérables, from a public-domain electronic text released by Project Gutenberg. As a translation rather than the original, its value lies first in offering a freely accessible, fully searchable text of a European classic, convenient for Dutch readers or scholars studying translation to read in comparison. The content covers the opening bishop story and the unfolding of Fantine's thread; the themes of personal fate and the social underclass are already established at this stage. Stylistically it retains the expansive nineteenth-century narrative manner, with substantial passages of reflection and description, and reading requires patience. It suits advanced reading for language learners and comparative study of how different language versions handle Hugo's long sentences and reflective passages. Note that this is the first of five volumes; reading it alone will stop mid-plot, so plan ahead to obtain the later volumes and avoid losing the thread halfway through.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers with some Dutch who want to read a classic in translation
Scholars studying translations of Les Misérables and translation strategies
Students who need a public-domain electronic text for course reading
Readers who enjoy the narrative style of nineteenth-century European novels

Not a good fit for

Readers with limited Dutch who want an entry via Chinese or English
Those who expect fast-paced plot and dislike long reflective passages
Readers who only want excerpts or adaptations and do not plan to read the whole book

Reading tips

First confirm you have the other four volumes, and read them in order to avoid breaking the thread.
Prepare a character chart and note new characters and identities as they appear.
When you hit long reflective passages, skim first; grasp the main narrative, then return.
If using it for language study, pick one passage per chapter for close reading and sentence-pattern work.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this the Dutch version or the French original?

This is the Dutch translation, titled De Ellendigen, released by Project Gutenberg. It corresponds to the first part of Hugo's French original Les Misérables, the first of five volumes, so the content is incomplete; readers need to obtain the later volumes separately.

Can I read this translation without having read the original?

Yes, but be prepared. The translation retains the expansive, reflective style of nineteenth-century narrative; the opening is slow, and information about characters and historical background is dense. It helps to first learn about French society during the Restoration and to accept the groundwork of the first few dozen pages before the main plot flows more smoothly.

How are the layout and notes in this electronic edition?

As a public-domain electronic text, its main advantages are accessibility and searchability; it usually has no modern editorial notes or introduction. You will need to look up historical figures, institutions, or allusions yourself. For academic reading, use it alongside an annotated print translation or research materials.

Is it suitable for learning Dutch?

It suits intermediate and advanced learners as extended reading, but not beginners. The sentences are long, there is much reflection, and old-fashioned expressions are common, which can be frustrating. For study, choose more narrative chapters, read closely paragraph by paragraph with a dictionary, and alternate with other modern Dutch materials.

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About the author

Hugo, Victor, 1802-1885 Author

Hugo, Victor (1802–1885) was a French author renowned for his novels and poetry. The collection holds 54 of his works, including volumes of Les Misérables (such as Jean Valjean and Fantine), Notre-Dame de Paris, and Quatrevingt-Treize. These works center on poverty, justice, revolution, and redemption, weaving the fate of individuals tightly into social reality. His narratives are grand and emotionally rich, combining romantic sweep with deep concern for the poor and marginalized. Classified under inspirational growth, his characters' struggles amid hardship still speak to readers today. Public information is limited; this note describes only the themes and style suggested by the works in the collection.