Les Miserables

Victor Hugo’s Historian

/ Sarah Kay Bierle / 5 Comments

In his classic book Les Miserables, Victor Hugo often gets side-tracked from the story and enlightens us all with some deep (sometimes confusing) philosophy.  While I haven’t always appreciated his digressions from the story plot, his thoughts are insightful.

Here is a quotes about what historians study (or should study) in his humble opinion:

“No man is a good historian of the open, visible, signal, and public life of the nations, if he is not, at the same time to a certain extent the historian of their deeper and hidden life; and no man is a good historian of the interior if he does not know how to be, whenever there is need, the historian of the exterior.  The history of morals and ideas penetrates the history of the events, and vice versa…  Since true history deals with everything, the true historian deals with everything.”  (Hugo, Les Miserables, page 984, emphasis by yours truly).

In other words, historians can’t just look at the easy stuff like “oh there was a Civil War in America in 1861-1865.”  They need to honestly consider why.  And the answers are not always easy…they are vast and varied…and changing.  (Just as a reminder the changing views of how historians look at and teach history is called “historiography” – how’s that for a big word?)

Miss Sarah and President Davis (re-enactor) at the Moorpark Civil War Re-enactment, 2012

Miss Sarah and President Davis (re-enactor) at the Moorpark Civil War Re-enactment, 2012

If we are going to be honest with ourselves and with others, we must always tell the truth.  And there is no exception for historians.  We must “deal with everything” – the ideas, the religion, the society, the government, the individuals.  That is history.

Your Historian,

Miss Sarah

P.S. Huntington Beach Civil War Re-enactment is next weekend. Can’t wait to spend some time with my living history friends! (Don’t worry, I’ll post the last article on WWI before “time traveling”…)

Summer Reading

/ Sarah Kay Bierle / 4 Comments

What are you reading?

I’m a writer.  I believe that reading great books can inspire, encourage, and delight.

For example, I’m reading Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables…all 1463 pages of it!  I’m on page 941 and am hoping to finish the novel this summer.  (I’m not going to confess how long it’s taken me to get to page 941).

"...the poor child, in winter, not yet six years old...sweeping the street before daylight with an enormous broom I her little red hands and tears in her large eyes." (Hugo, Les Miserables, page 157). Will Young Cosette ever be rescued from the cruel innkeepers?

“…the poor child, in winter, not yet six years old…sweeping the street before daylight with an enormous broom in her little red hands and tears in her large eyes.” (Hugo, Les Miserables, page 157).

Yeah, it’s really long.  Hugo didn’t read all the “modern rules of writing.”  There are times I’m thinking “hurry-up, let’s get on with the story – I don’t really care about the alley, the king, or the history of the abbey.”  Guess what!  Those chapters that seem “semi-useless” weave into the story and present a better picture of the society, the history of a new character, or details to enhance the plot.

I’m not going to write a book review or report or recommendation at this time.  I’m just going to say: reading classic literature is an adventure.  I’ve been wandering the streets and alleys of Paris  in the pages of the Hugo’s novel and I didn’t have to buy a plane ticket or “time travel.”

So, what classic literature or historical fiction are you reading this summer?  What adventures are you experiencing through the pages of a great novel?

Happy Summer…Happy Reading!

Your Historian,

Miss Sarah