“Les Miserables” was written by famous French author and poet, Victor Hugo in 1862. Depending on the edition, it contains
5 different volumes and well over 1,200 pages. The entire novel took over 17 years to complete and is considered one of the finest pieces of classical literature ever written.
Hugo was a dissident in 19th century France and his political beliefs are evident throughout this work. “Les Miserables” is a novel about social injustice and the miseries of the lower classes in Napoleonic France. The novel was highly popular with the masses although it was severely criticized by the political and religious leaders of the time.
The story contains many subplots and plot detours, but the main plot centers around a poor peasant, Jean Valjean. Valjean was imprisoned for stealing food for his starving family. He spent 19 years in prison before he was finally released. Once out of prison, he finds life as an ex convict to be difficult. Few people trust him, because of his criminal history.
One day, he accidentally steals a coin from a poor child who promptly notifies the police. Valjean is now being sought after by the police. Because he is an ex convict, if he is caught, he will spend the rest of his life in prison. Valjean is being pursued by a police inspector named Javert. Javert is a man obsessed with catching Valjean and spends years hunting for him. He is depicted as an honest police officer, whose main fault is his obsession with imprisoning Valjean for what is essentially a minor crime.
Valjean wants to live the life of an honest man, but because of Javert’s obsession, he is forced to hide from the police and assume different identities. Many times, Javert tracks Valjean down, only to lose him at the end. In today’s culture, Javert has become synonymous with an obsessed but ineffective police officer.
Valjean spends many years living his life hiding from the police. He does, however become somewhat successful and rises to the level of mayor. He is in reality a good man who performed many good deeds, including saving people’s lives on several different occasions.
In the novel’s final volume, Valjean saves Javert during a riot. Javert is conflicted with knowing that arresting Valjean is not right, but his duty to the law requires that he be imprisoned. Javert releases Valjean, but is unable to internally reconcile the opposing moral issues. Because of the conflict, Javert commits suicide. Some time later, Valjean also dies. However, he passes peacefully with his family by his side, knowing that he had led a good life.
“Les Miserables” is a political statement of the rigors and unfairness of life for the poor and working class. It is clearly sympathetic with those groups. Victor Hugo goes to great lengths to describe in detail the hopeless position of the poor in 19th century Paris. He also blames the Church and political leaders of that time for situation of the lower classes. Because of the political undertones in this novel, it was not popular with France’s political elites.
This story has been adapted to cinema in many languages. Overall, more than 30 films are adapted from “Les Miserables”. It has also been made into musicals and even animated features. It has become one of the most famous novels of all time and is still widely read today.