How to Eat an Elephant: A Little Book Club for Large Books

In this episode, the HEE crew frolic about in their love for Schönberg and Boublil’s classic musical adaptation of Victor Hugo’s novel. They compare the musical to the book and discuss the ways in which the medium of theater (and film!) allows creators to emphasize Hugo’s themes in unique ways.

Ian’s Comprehensive List of the Best “Bring Him Home” Performances:

Colm Wilkinson at the 10th Anniversary concert (my all-time favorite)

Alfie Boe at the 25th anniversary concert

Gary Morris on the complete symphonic recording

John Owen Jones

Four tenors rendition featuring Wilkinson, Boe, Jones, and another tenor I don't recognize

Current Broadway star Ramin Karimloo, who is my second favorite performer after Wilkinson

Very young Gaten Matarazzo from Stranger Things (amazing!)

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Watch out for an announcement about what’s coming next on the HEE podcast!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit centerforlit.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, the HEE team takes a moment to look back and contemplate our journey through Les Misérables. We attempt a bird’s eye view of themes like the historical importance of the 19th century, the role of duty and love, Hugo’s definition of education, and his ultimate vision of hope for the miserable ones.

(We apologize for the poor sound quality in areas of this episode. Ian and Emily are rearranging their recording studio and haven’t quite gotten it fine-tuned yet.)

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Follow along with our reading schedule: https://www.centerforlit.com/hee

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit centerforlit.substack.com/subscribe

Today’s the day! In this episode, we discuss the conclusion to Jean Valjean’s story.

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In this second to last “official” episode for Les Misérables, the HEE team discusses the idealistic joy of Marius and Cosette’s wedding as it compares to the realistic struggle of Jean Valjean’s decision to take up his real name.

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Follow along with our reading schedule: https://www.centerforlit.com/hee

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The payoff of the novel is upon us! In this episode we discuss two magnificent scenes: the profound conclusion of Javert’s story and the reconciliation of Marius and his grandfather.

**Due to 2/3 members of the HEE crew being on the road and the fact that our talented audio editor is on paternity leave, the sound quality of this episode is not up to our usual standards. Please accept our apologies, our assurance that quality will return for future episodes, and our opinion that the thematic content we discuss in this episode is still WORTH IT!!

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At long last the HEE crew ventures into the Paris sewers! They do their best to navigate its powerful, metaphorical layers while avoiding junior high humor.

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The HEE crew is back! We’re discussing Book One of Jean Valjean – it’s the beginning of the end. Topics include Hugo’s philosophy of history, the tension between ideal and real in the story, and Cosette’s strange interlude in this passage about the barricades.

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We continue our discussion of the barricades with a special emphasis on the dynamics between Marius and Eponine.

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In this very musical edition of How to Eat an Elephant, the team compares the various attitudes toward revolution that we see in this section as they are expressed by Grantaire, Enjolras, Gavroche, and Marius.

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Megan and Emily shoulder the burden of distinguishing between Hugo’s definition of an “uprising” and an “insurrection.” Along the way, they they wrestle with moral quandaries and vent their spleen about the edition of Les Mis we are reading.

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Follow along with our reading schedule: https://www.centerforlit.com/hee

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit centerforlit.substack.com/subscribe