Les Misérables

victor hugo charles e. wilbour

Hugo uses the events of post-Napoleonic France as a backdrop to tell the story of Jean Valjean. Released after nineteen years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread, Valjean now seeks to redeem his life by helping others, particularly the lowly prostitute Fantine and her daughter, Cosette. At the same time Valjean is doggedly pursued by police inspector Javert.

Genres classicsfictionhistorical fictionliteraturefrancehistoricalnovelsfrench literatureromanceclassic literature

1222 pages, Hardcover

First published March 31,1862

Literary awards

french-american foundation translation prize,

Places

paris, france, digne, montreuil,

This edition

Format: 1222 pages, Hardcover
Published: January 1, 1996 by Barnes \u0026 Noble Books
ISBN: 9781566199155
ASIN: 1566199158
Language: English

Characters More characters

Jean Valjean

Jean Valjean is the protagonist of Les Miserables, a former convict who turns his life around after a kindly act from the bishop. He takes care of Fantine and becomes the father of her daughter Cosette. Throughout the story he is chased by Inspector Javer...
Javert

The antagonist of Les Miserables. He is an Inspector who searches tirelessly for Jean Valjean....
Cosette

Cosette is the daughter of Fantine and Tholomyes. She is raised by the Thénardiers who treat her like a servant. Jean Valjean rescues her and makes her his daughter. For several years she is raised in a convent, but then Valjean takes her and leaves. She ...
Fantine

After being abandoned by her lover, she is left with her daughter Cosette. She finds an innkeepers family who take care of Cosette and goes to find work. When they discover she has a daughter she is fired. Later Jean Valjean, who owned the factory w...
Bishop Myriel

...
M. U0026 Mme. Thénardier

...

About the author

victor hugo

After 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.