The Man Who Laughs

Victor Hugo's Gothic Masterpiece of Aristocratic Cruelty and Simon Vance's 22-Hour Vocal Tour de Force

Set in seventeenth-century England and conceived by Victor Hugo during his political exile, *The Man Who Laughs* is one of the most astonishing, politically ferocious Gothic novels ever written. The narrative follows Gwynplaine: a young boy abducted and surgically mutilated by the villainous Comprachicos to wear a grotesque, perpetual carved smile upon his face. Adopted by the itinerant philosopher Ursus and his wise wolf Homo, Gwynplaine grows up as a carnival attraction, falling deeply in love with the blind maiden Dea, who cannot see his disfigurement and loves him for his pure spirit. But when a shocking revelation reveals that Gwynplaine is actually the rightful heir to an immense English peerage, he is suddenly elevated to the House of Lords, where his attempts to speak for the starving masses provoke only cruel laughter from his peers.

On audio, Hugo’s baroque romanticism and burning social indignation find their perfect champion in legendary narrator Simon Vance. Spanning twenty-two and a half grand hours, Vance brings Shakespearean nobility and profound emotional vulnerability to Gwynplaine’s tragic plight. His delivery of Gwynplaine’s legendary speech before the House of Lords—an incandescent critique of systemic inequality that inspired the creation of the Batman villain the Joker—is delivered with spine-tingling theatrical power. Paired with companion classics like Les Misérables and The Count of Monte Cristo, this epic performance shines brightly in our Classics archive.

For audiobook lovers seeking unmatched runtime return and sublime dramatic storytelling on a single Audible credit, *The Man Who Laughs* is a masterpiece. Vance’s vocal stamina, aristocratic characterizations, and flawless pacing make the twenty-two-hour journey feel both vast and intensely personal. Exchanging a single credit for this soaring tragedy rewards you with one of the most poignant, unforgettable listening experiences in classical literature.