Les Miserables Radio Theatre

Les Miserables is a classic that has been enjoyed by generations. The characters are unforgettable: the selfless Jean Valjean, obsessed Inspector Javert, and deceitful Thenardier. The themes Hugo portrayed through the characters are timeless: the savage injustice of the law, the lavish grace of God.

But at 1,000 pages, you may be wondering how you could introduce this masterpiece to your family. This Focus on the Family Radio Theatre® presentation is the answer. Dramatized, with the voices of some of Britain's finest actors, and appropriate sound effects, this book comes alive.

Granted, this audio production is less than three hours long, so you know you are going to miss the majority of the written book. The essential pieces of the plot are included and one can easily follow the story. The historical background for the story has been left out, however.

It is great for family listening. You will be so intrigued by this production you will want to read the entire book yourself.

If you are going to listen to this production with your family, you may want to do some preparatory work. Some research on the era would help explain many of the actions in the story. Your children may ask about the revolution, the living conditions of the time, etc. You should also consider that this audio production is not recommended for children under eight years old.

I really enjoyed this production. I'd read an abridged version of the book and found it interesting. But this audio presentation really brought the story alive. It has inspired me to patiently tackle the whole book.

You can find out more about this presentation and listen to sound clips at RadioTheatre.org.

Tyndale, Focus on the Family, 169 minutes, 3 CDs.

I received a complimentary copy of this production from Tyndale for the purpose of this review.