Les miserables

They fought hand to hand for every ínch of ground, using pistols, swords, fists, at a distance, at cióse quarters, from above, from below, from everywhere Les Miserables, or 'the wretched', is Víctor Hugo's epic novel of redemption, sacrífice, love and suffering. It tells the story of ex-convict Jean Valjean, who has spent nineteen brutal years in chains after stealing a loaf of bread. Saved by an act of Christian charity, he is then offered a chance of happiness when he encounters the downtrodden Fantine and vows to rescue her daughter Cosette - but is constantly pursued by the implacable policeman Ja vert, who will not let him escape his past. An instant bestseller on publication in 1862, Les Miserables weaves together individual stories with real-life historical events to create a rich, imaginative drama of human life.