Jean Val Jean
Encyclopedia
Jean Val Jean is a 1935 novel by Solomon Cleaver
. It is an English-language
retelling of Victor Hugo
's 1862 novel Les Misérables
.
Around the turn of the 20th century, Cleaver, then a young minister
from Winnipeg
, read through Les Misérables and would often retell it in his own words. His adaptation proved so popular that he was persuaded to write it down and publish it. The resulting novel, titled Jean Val Jean, is much shorter (about 100 pages) and uses much simpler language than Hugo's version. It remains popular, especially among young readers who do not have the patience or reading skills required to tackle Hugo's five-volume original.
Solomon Cleaver
Solomon Cleaver was a Winnipeg minister and storyteller best known for his adaptation of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, published in 1935 as Jean Val Jean...
. It is an English-language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
retelling of Victor Hugo
Victor Hugo
Victor-Marie Hugo was a Frenchpoet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France....
's 1862 novel Les Misérables
Les Misérables
Les Misérables , translated variously from the French as The Miserable Ones, The Wretched, The Poor Ones, The Wretched Poor, or The Victims), is an 1862 French novel by author Victor Hugo and is widely considered one of the greatest novels of the nineteenth century...
.
Around the turn of the 20th century, Cleaver, then a young minister
Minister of religion
In Christian churches, a minister is someone who is authorized by a church or religious organization to perform functions such as teaching of beliefs; leading services such as weddings, baptisms or funerals; or otherwise providing spiritual guidance to the community...
from Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, read through Les Misérables and would often retell it in his own words. His adaptation proved so popular that he was persuaded to write it down and publish it. The resulting novel, titled Jean Val Jean, is much shorter (about 100 pages) and uses much simpler language than Hugo's version. It remains popular, especially among young readers who do not have the patience or reading skills required to tackle Hugo's five-volume original.
Publication history
- TorontoTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
: Clarke, Irwin and Company Limited, 1935. - TorontoTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
: Clarke, Irwin and Company Limited, 1951. - TorontoTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
: Clarke, Irwin and Company Limited, 1957. - TorontoTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
: Clarke, Irwin and Company Limited, 1959. - TorontoTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
: Clarke, Irwin and Company Limited, 1962. - SaskatoonSaskatoonSaskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344....
: Western Extension College Educational Publishers, 1989. ISBN 0-920284-17-5