Les Miserables

A thrilling tale of narrow escapes, romance in the midst of a revolution, and battlefield heroism, Victor Hugo's sprawling 1862 novel focuses on the Parisian underworld. Ex-convict Jean Valjean, who served 19 years in prison for stealing bread, attempts to redeem his life by helping the downtrodden. But his every move is dogged by the implacable policeman, Inspector Javert, whose relentless pursuit of a reformed criminal reflects a morally empty state that values retribution rather than justice.
One of the first modern novels, Les Misérables took the unprecedented step of featuring a working-class hero and examining society's role in fostering crime and criminal behavior. Its portrait of altruism in the face of misery, poverty, and injustice is memorable for its vivid characterizations and its gripping plot, which unfolds in the manner of a detective story. An instant success around the world upon its initial publication, the book has inspired countless dramatic adaptations, including one of the world's longest-running musicals, and is routinely ranked among the top 100 novels of all time.

French poet, playwright, novelist, and activist, Victor Hugo is best known as the author of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. A leader of the French Romantic movement, he was one of the most prolific authors in history and his career reflects a turning point in French literature.

FANTINEI. A Just ManII. The FallIII. In the Year 1817IV. To Confide is Somettimes to Deliver into a Person's PowerV. The DescentVI. JavertVII. The Champmathieu AffairVIII. A Counter-Blow COSETTEI. WaterlooII. The Ship OrionIII. Accomplishment of the Promise Nade to the Dead WomanIV. The Gorbeau HovelV. For a Black Hunt, A Mute PackVI. Le Petit-PicpusVII. ParenthesisVIII. Cemeteries Take That Which is Committed Them MARIUSI. Paris Studies in its AtomII. The Great BourgeoisIII. The Grandfather and the GrandsonIV. The Friends of the ABCV. The Excellence of MisfortuneVI. The Conjunction of Two StarsVII. Patron MinetteVIII. The Wicked Poor Man ST. DENISI. A Few Pages of HistoryII. EponineIII. The House in the Rue PlumetIV. Succor From Below May Turn Out to be Succor From on High  V. The End of Which Does Not Resemble the BeginningVI. Little GavrocheVII. SlangVIII. Enchantments and DesolationsIX. Whither are They Going?X. The 5th of June, 1832XI.The Atom Fraternizes with the HurricaneXII. CorintheXIII. Marius Enters the ShadowXIV. The Grandeurs of DespairXV. The Rue de l'Homme Arme JEAN VALJEANI. The War Between Four WallsII. The Intestine of the LeviathanIII. Mud but the SoulIV. Javert DerailedV. Grandson and GrandfatherVI. The Sleepless NightVII. The Last Draught from the CupVIII. Fading Away of the TwilightIX. Supreme Shadow, Supreme Dawn