HEE Watches Ridley Scott's "Napoleon" (2023)

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Surprise!! We’ve got a bonus episode for you. Thus far the How to Eat an Elephant podcast has covered War and Peace and Les Misérables. Napoleon Bonaparte features heavily in both of these novels, and so we thought we’d get the crew together to watch Ridley Scott’s recent film about the notorious French Emperor and see how his take compares to those of Tolstoy and Hugo. What did we think? Well…you’ll have to listen and find out…

Our new crew member, Charlotte Andrews, also chimes in a bit in the background of this episode… ;)

P.S. We’d love to hear what you think of the film! If you decide to buy Napoleon, please consider using our affiliate link here to help support our work at CenterForLit!

An Important Announcement!

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How to Eat an Elephant will be taking a temporary break. But lest you despair: tune in to find out our plan for returning and what we’ll be doing in the meantime!

Les Misérables: The Musical

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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!

Les Misérables: Conclusion

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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

Les Misérables: Book 5, Chapters 8-9

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

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Les Misérables: Book 5, Chapters 6-7

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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

Les Misérables: Book 5, Chapters 4-5

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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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Les Misérables: Book 5, Chapters 2-3

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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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Les Misérables: Book 5, Chapter 1

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

Les Misérables: Book 4, Chapters 14-15

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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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Les Misérables: Book 4, Chapters 12-13

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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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Les Misérables: Book 4, Chapters 9-11

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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 wrestle with moral quandaries and vent their spleen about the edition of Les Mis we are reading.

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Les Misérables: Book 4, Chapters 7-8

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Ian, Emily, and Megan explore the world of “argot” and compare this broken language to Marius and Cosette’s budding language of love.

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Les Misérables: Book 4, Chapters 5-6

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This week we wrestle through Hugo’s philosophy of love and follow Gavroche into the nooks and crannies of Paris.

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Les Misérables: Book 4, Chapters 3-4

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In this episode, we talk about the Edenic imagery of Cosette’s garden on the Rue Plumet and Jean Valjean’s reaction to her sudden beauty.

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Les Misérables: Book 4, Chapters 1-2

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The HEE crew wrap their heads around French history while trying to pin down Victor Hugo’s political opinions. Meanwhile, Marius continues to be Marius.

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Les Misérables: Book 3, Chapter 8

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The HEE team follow Marius into a bit of a tight spot, caught between his lady love and his father’s savior!

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Les Misérables: Book 3, Chapters 5-7

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Marius is in love, and he doesn’t care who knows it! In this episode we talk about the young hero’s character development, Hugo’s prescriptions for the progress of society, and the shadows that lurk beneath the surface of our story.

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Les Misérables: Book 3, Chapters 3-4

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In which we finally meet Marius, examine his changing worldview, and get our first glimpse of the Friends of the ABC! (Do you hear the people sing?)

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Les Misérables: Book 3, Chapters 1-2

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How to Eat an Elephant is back for the new year! In this episode, we take up two extremes: the gaman and the old man. We compare the two and begin to unpack Hugo’s perspective on French history.

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