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Les Miserables
Les Misérables is a sweeping French novel by Victor Hugo that explores themes of justice, redemption, love, and revolution. The story follows Jean Valjean, a man imprisoned for stealing bread to feed his sister’s starving children. After 19 years in prison and multiple escape attempts, he is released—but society rejects him due to his criminal past.
Valjean is transformed by the kindness of a bishop and reinvents himself as an honest man and successful factory owner. However, he is relentlessly pursued by Inspector Javert, a rigid lawman who believes that no one can truly change.
Along the way, Valjean adopts Cosette, the orphaned daughter of Fantine, one of his former factory workers. As Cosette grows up, she falls in love with Marius, a young revolutionary. Their love story unfolds against the backdrop of political unrest in 19th-century France, including the June Rebellion of 1832 in Paris.
The novel culminates in sacrifice, forgiveness, and moral victory. Valjean dies peacefully, redeemed and honored, having finally found peace in his life.
Valjean is transformed by the kindness of a bishop and reinvents himself as an honest man and successful factory owner. However, he is relentlessly pursued by Inspector Javert, a rigid lawman who believes that no one can truly change.
Along the way, Valjean adopts Cosette, the orphaned daughter of Fantine, one of his former factory workers. As Cosette grows up, she falls in love with Marius, a young revolutionary. Their love story unfolds against the backdrop of political unrest in 19th-century France, including the June Rebellion of 1832 in Paris.
The novel culminates in sacrifice, forgiveness, and moral victory. Valjean dies peacefully, redeemed and honored, having finally found peace in his life.
2161 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 13, 2025
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About the author
Victor Hugo
6,408 books13.2k followersAfter Napoleon III seized power in 1851, French writer Victor Marie Hugo went into exile and in 1870 returned to France; his novels include
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
(1831) and
Les Misérables
(1862).
This poet, playwright, novelist, dramatist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, and perhaps the most influential, important exponent of the Romantic movement in France, campaigned for human rights. People in France regard him as one of greatest poets of that country and know him better abroad.
This poet, playwright, novelist, dramatist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, and perhaps the most influential, important exponent of the Romantic movement in France, campaigned for human rights. People in France regard him as one of greatest poets of that country and know him better abroad.
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