Part 1 Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

Kate and Sheila introduce part 1 of  Les Misérables a.k.a. ‘The Brick’ by Victor Hugo.

These episodes are dedicated to our dear friend, Matt Green, who passed from this life in 2024. His love for this story inspired us to tackle the Brick, thank you Matt!

The Bishop is the first character we meet. He inspired us greatly with words such as…

“I was not put in this world to protect lives but to save souls.”

“We must never fear robbers and murderers. They are dangers from outside, small dangers. It is ourselves we have to fear. Prejudice is the real robber and vice the real murderer.”

His message to Jean Valjean touched his heart and changed the trajectory of his life!

“...my brother, you no longer belong to what is evil but to what is good. I have bought your soul to save it from black thoughts and the spirit of perdition, and I give it to God.”

Jean Valjean was imprisoned for breaking a shop window in his attempt to steal bread to feed his sister’s family. He was sentenced to serve 5 years, however after 4 escape attempts his sentence was increased by 14 years!

Are you ready to challenge yourself far beyond your life as a reader to the depth of your compassion as a  person? Published in 1862, this classic helps us to discover what is true!