Les Misérables
by Victor Hugo
Summary
Former convict Jean Valjean breaks parole after an act of unexpected mercy transforms him, and he spends decades building an honest life while the implacable Inspector Javert hunts him across France. Hugo folds in the fate of the destitute Fantine, her daughter Cosette, and the students who die on the barricades of the 1832 Paris uprising, expanding a chase story into a panorama of poverty and grace. The novel's moral force and sheer scale have made it one of the most widely read works of French literature.
Historical Context & Significance
Hugo published the novel in 1862 while in political exile, and it sold out within hours in Paris despite hostile reviews. Its story has reached global audiences through countless adaptations, including one of the longest running musicals in theater history.