| A lengthy story concerning one man attempting | | | | philanthropist, yet despite the fact he is clearly a |
| to redeem himself from past sins, Les Miserables | | | | good man, his past as an ex-convict clouds the |
| encompasses a span of 16 years in French | | | | judgement of those around him. It also criticizes |
| society between 1815-1831: a tumultuous political | | | | the reciprocality of social injustice, evident in Jean |
| era full of inequality and political strife. The tale | | | | Valjean himself, who transformed from a petty |
| concerns one Jean Valjean, an ex-convict, | | | | thief into a hardened criminal merely due to the |
| imprisoned for an initial 5 years for stealing a loaf | | | | decision by the justice system to keep him in |
| of bread to feed his family, whose sentence is | | | | prison for 19 years; and the prevalence of |
| increased to 19 years for repeatedly attempting | | | | orphans, who are forced to become criminals |
| to escape. Upon his release in 1815, he is unable to | | | | because they lack the opportunity to escape |
| escape the heavy burden of his past sins, as the | | | | from such poverty. |
| people around him are unwilling to accept an | | | | "A man is not idle, because he is absorbed in |
| ex-convict into society, no matter how good his | | | | thought. There is a visible labour and there is an |
| deeds are. This contradiction between reality and | | | | invisible labour." |
| illusion figures heavily in the book, as the morality | | | | Quite an epic tale in scope, the huge time span, |
| and virtue of a person are often misperceived. | | | | the highly detailed characters, and the vivid |
| The novel deals with themes such as the | | | | environments ensure Les Miserables has remained |
| importance of love, social injustice, redemption | | | | a classic for over 150 years. Set in both rural |
| and immorality. | | | | France, and later on in the busy city of Paris, the |
| "Be it true or false, what is said about men often | | | | reader will absorb both spheres of life from the |
| has as much influence upon their lives, and | | | | 19th century: the quiet, peaceful country life, and |
| especially upon their destinies, as what they do" | | | | the hectic bustle of city life. The story is highly |
| A staple in the collection of books studied in high | | | | enthralling, and contains a wide range of sub-plots |
| school, Les Miserables is a very smooth and | | | | and stories that will keep you greatly interested; |
| accessible read compared to a lot of other | | | | from the insidious Thernardier to the relentless |
| famous novels, and for this reason it remains | | | | Inspector Javert, Les Miserables contains a wealth |
| immensely popular. It serves as a harsh critique to | | | | of characters that will keep you gripped; a great |
| the social injustice of the time: morally upright | | | | read for teenagers upwards. |
| characters are often in abject conditions, whilst | | | | "Jean Valjean, my brother, you no longer belong |
| the degenerate, villainous characters are much | | | | to evil, but to good. It is your soul I am buying |
| better off, revealing the injustice inherent in the | | | | for you. I withdraw it from dark thoughts and |
| system. This illustrates the foolishness of holding | | | | from the spirit of perdition, and I give it to God! |
| certain prejudices: Jean Valjean becomes a great | | | | |