To Love Is to Act Les Misrables and Victor Hugos Vision for Leading Lives of Conscience

To love is to act Aimer, cest agir. These words, which Victor Hugo wrote three days before he died, epitomize his lifes philosophy. His love of freedom, democracy, and all peopleespecially the poor and wretcheddrove him not only to write his epic Les Misrables but also to follow his conscience. We have much to learn from Hugo, who battled for justice, lobbied against slavery and the death penalty, and fought for the rights of women and children. In a series of essays that interweave Hugos life with Les Misrables and point to the novels contemporary relevance, To Love Is to Act explores how Hugo reveals his guiding principles for life, including his belief in the redemptive power of love and forgiveness. Enriching the book are insights from artists who captured the novels heart in the famed musical, Les Mis creators Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schnberg, producer of the musical Les Misrables Cameron Mackintosh, film director Tom Hooper, and award-winning actors who have portrayed Jean Valjean: Colm Wilkinson and Hugh Jackman.