“The book which the reader has before him at this moment is, from one end to the other, in its entirety and details… a progress from evil to good, from injustice to justice, from falsehood to truth, from night to day.” — Victor Hugo, Les Misérables
Volume I: Fantine
The novel opens with Bishop Myriel, a kind and generous clergyman in Digne. Jean Valjean, an ex-convict released after 19 years of hard labor for stealing bread, arrives in town and is shunned until the bishop offers him shelter. Valjean steals the bishop’s silver but is caught. Instead of condemning him, the bishop forgives him and gives him more silver, urging him to use it to become an honest man. This act of mercy transforms Valjean.
Years later, Valjean—now known as Monsieur Madeleine—has reinvented himself as a wealthy factory owner and mayor of Montreuil-sur-Mer. Fantine, a worker in his factory, is unjustly fired after her illegitimate child, Cosette, is discovered. Desperate, Fantine sells her hair and teeth before turning to prostitution. When she attacks a man who abuses her, Inspector Javert arrests her, but Valjean intervenes, recognizing his role in her downfall. He promises to care for Cosette.
Volume II: Cosette
Valjean rescues Cosette from the abusive Thénardiers, who have been exploiting her as a servant. He pays them off and flees with Cosette to Paris, where they live in seclusion. Javert, relentless in his pursuit, tracks Valjean down, forcing them to escape into a convent, where they find refuge.
Volume III: Marius
The story shifts to Marius Pontmercy, a young law student estranged from his royalist grandfather. He joins a group of revolutionary students, the Friends of the ABC, and falls in love with Cosette after seeing her in a park. Meanwhile, the Thénardiers, now criminals in Paris, plot to rob Valjean, but Marius unwittingly thwarts their plan.
Volume IV: The Idyll in the Rue Plumet and the Epic in the Rue Saint-Denis
Valjean and Cosette live quietly in a house on Rue Plumet. Marius discovers Cosette’s whereabouts, and they secretly meet. Meanwhile, political unrest grows in Paris, and the students prepare for revolution. Javert infiltrates their group but is exposed and released by Valjean, who is torn between protecting Cosette and aiding the revolutionaries.
Volume V: Jean Valjean
The June Rebellion erupts, and Marius joins the barricades. Valjean arrives, ostensibly to protect Marius for Cosette’s sake. When Javert is captured, Valjean volunteers to execute him but instead sets him free. The barricade falls, and Valjean carries the wounded Marius through the sewers to safety. Javert, tormented by Valjean’s mercy, commits suicide.
Marius recovers and marries Cosette. Valjean confesses his past to Marius, who distances himself from him. When the Thénardiers reveal that Valjean saved Marius’s life, Marius and Cosette rush to reconcile with him. Valjean dies peacefully, surrounded by love, his redemption complete.
Key Ideas
- The transformative power of mercy and compassion
- The struggle for social justice and human dignity
- The conflict between law and morality
- Redemption through self-sacrifice
- The impact of poverty and inequality
Notable Adaptations
| Year | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Les Misérables (musical) | Iconic stage adaptation by Boublil and Schönberg |
| 2012 | Les Misérables (film) | Academy Award-winning adaptation of the musical |
| 1998 | Les Misérables (TV miniseries) | Starring Liam Neeson as Valjean |
| 1935 | Les Misérables (film) | Classic Hollywood adaptation with Fredric March |
Who should read this book?
- Readers who enjoy epic historical fiction with deep moral themes
- Those interested in social justice and human resilience
- Fans of character-driven stories about redemption