The Book that Changed Susan Carland: Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables

At the 2016 Gala Night of Storytelling, Australian studies researcher Susan Carland shares the story of the book that changed her life: Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables.

‘I don’t remember the first time I read [Victor Hugo’s] Les Miserables, but what I do remember is how deeply a particular scene in the book affected me. It’s an exchange between two characters that was so unexpected and such an example of how someone can exemplify audacious grace, that I couldn’t stop turning it over in my head for days afterwards. Even now, I often reflect on that moment and what I can learn from it.’ In the scene, Jean Valjean steals silverware from a kindly bishop. When Valjean is apprehended and brought back to the bishop, the bishop lies, telling the men that that the silverware was a gift he gave to Valjean, and that the thief should be freed. ‘So much of the way that we deal with each other is about revenge … it’s about knee-jerk responses and reminding people who’s the boss … We live in a time when very few of our heroes are remarkable for their audacious grace. Rarely do they exemplify a better way of living – a better way of being – for us to look up to.’