Les Misérables (1862) by Victor Hugo is a monumental French historical novel that intertwines epic social commentary with intimate human drama. Set against the backdrop of post-Napoleonic France (1815–1832), the story follows ex-convict Jean Valjean, hunted by the relentless Inspector Javert for breaking parole after stealing bread to feed his sister’s starving family. Valjean’s redemption arc—as he adopts the orphaned Cosette, evades capture, and becomes a force for good—collides with revolutionaries like the idealistic student Marius and the tragic Fantine, Cosette’s mother.
Hugo’s sprawling narrative digresses into essays on Parisian sewers, the Battle of Waterloo, and convent life, but its heart lies in themes of justice, mercy, and the resilience of the oppressed. The barricade scenes, where young rebels fight for a doomed cause, remain among literature’s most stirring calls for change.
A cornerstone of 19th-century literature, Les Misérables has inspired countless adaptations, from stage musicals to films, but Hugo’s prose—lyrical, furious, and deeply compassionate—offers an unmatched immersion into his vision of humanity’s light and shadow.
