Hugo is so ELITE. His writing blows me away.

“A hand sustains you, and it is hers; lips touch your forehead and they are her lips; the breathing at your side is her breath… to feel the touch of providence in her hands and be able to clasp it in your arms, a palpable God - what happiness can be greater?”

“Well-managed social education can extract from any human spirit, no matter of what kind, such usefulness as it contains.”

The first passage (even better in full in the book) is such a solid example of his ability to profoundly put in to words what is really ineffable human emotion. The second is such a massive statement surrounding his views and compassion for the poor and outcast. He doesn’t simply say ‘education’ but SOCIAL education. To be taught how to live in harmony with your community and have compassion, mercy, kindness and generosity etc. brings out the best in any soul.

Hugo is actually something else… this chapter with Valjean sneaking around at night was written so perfectly. His language is so cosmic and poetic; how he contrasts the Bishop as almost divine and Valjean as violent, how he uses the setting of transient moonlight to say it’s as if nature is begging Valjean to reflect, and lastly, Valjean seeing the crucifix extending its arms towards both the divine Bishop and wretched thief… every line has substance and meaning and beauty. Everytime I read this book I think how lucky we are to have writing of this calibre.