Les Misérables

First published in 1862, \*Les Misérables\* is Victor Hugo's masterpiece and one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. The story follows Jean Valjean, a man imprisoned for nineteen years for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister's starving children. Upon his release, Valjean is a hardened and bitter man, but a transformative encounter with a kind bishop inspires him to dedicate his life to doing good. Under a new identity, Valjean becomes a successful businessman and a beloved mayor, but his past continues to haunt him in the form of Inspector Javert, a man whose rigid devotion to the law makes him Valjean's relentless pursuer. As their lives intertwine with those of the beautiful Fantine, her daughter Cosette, and a group of idealistic young revolutionaries, the novel explores profound themes of justice, mercy, and the enduring power of the human spirit. A sprawling and deeply moving epic that captures the social and political upheavals of its time, \*Les Misérables\* remains a timeless classic and a powerful testament to the possibility of redemption.