The Mysteries of Paris

The Mysteries of Paris by Eugène Sue

I started reading the first 49 pages of this book on my iPhone in its original 19th Century English translation that is in the Public Domain. It is free online in a six volume downloadable edition, but switched to this new paperback translation by Carolyn Betensky and Jonathan Loesberg. This modern translation is much better and I highly recommend it. Reading a paper book with over 1300 pages can at times be physically challenging, but it is also available in a digital eBook edition.
The Mysteries of Paris first appeared in a serialized version in the Journal des Débats, a conservative French weekly newspaper, for 17 months during 1842 and 1843. It is a massive work of 1,366 pages that contains 167 chapters in 10 books and an Epilogue. The story follows the exploits of Rodolphe, a rich man who uses various disguises to help various people of Paris in trouble. He is a 19th century Batman without the costume saving good people facing problems and punishing evil doers, all while being pursued by his ex-wife.
Since Eugène Sue was writing the book as it was being published in weekly installments, he occasionally interrupts the story to answer criticisms of his Socialist views. These direct appeals to the readers provide an interesting perspective on the justice system and social problems of the times. The book is immense, but Sue's pacing and characterization keeps the plot exciting from beginning to end. The book paints a picture of the fabulous city of Paris as it is revealed through the eyes of characters ranging from common thieves, homeless children, teenage prostitutes, the working poor, the merchant class, and the rich nobility. I truly enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed his other major novel The Wandering Jew and the long out of print series The Mysteries of the People.