Les Misérables

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Les Misérables

Q: What is Les Misérables about?

Les Misérables centers on the character Jean Valjean , an ex-convict in 19th-century France. The story spans many years as it tells of Valjean’s release from prison and reformation as an industrialist while being constantly pursued by the police inspector Javert. During this time he encounters a plethora of characters in Paris such as the impoverished single mother Fantine and Marius, a student and revolutionary who falls in love with Valjean’s adopted daughter, Cosette.

Q: What are the themes of Les Misérables ?

The themes of Les Misérables are concerned with social issues in 19th-century urban France. The novel’s author, Victor Hugo , uses Les Misérables to deliver critiques of wealth distribution , the justice system, industrialism, and republicanism.

Q: Was Les Misérables adapted into a musical?

Les Misérables was adapted into a musical in 1980 by Alain Boublil, who wrote the book and the lyrics, and Claude-Michel Schönberg, who wrote the music. It won best musical at the 1987 Tony Awards . The novel has also been adapted into a film many times.

novel by Hugo

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Last Updated: Jun 11, 2025 • Article History

What is Les Misérables about?

What are the themes of Les Misérables?

Was Les Misérables adapted into a musical?

Les Misérables, novel by French author Victor Hugo, published in French in 1862. It was an instant popular success and was quickly translated into several languages. The novel is concerned with social issues in 19th-century urban France and uses realism to critique wealth distribution, the justice system, industrialism, and republicanism.

(Read Britannica’s article “Massive Tomes: 10 of the World’s Longest Novels.”)

Plot and characters

Set in the Parisian underworld and plotted like a detective story, the work follows the fortunes of the convict Jean Valjean, a victim of society who has been imprisoned for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread. A hardened and streetwise criminal upon his release, he eventually softens and reforms, becoming a successful industrialist and mayor of a northern town. Despite this, he is haunted by an impulsive, regretted former crime and is pursued relentlessly by the morally strict police inspector Javert. Other characters include the impoverished single mother Fantine, who resorts to working as a prostitute to provide for her daughter. Valjean eventually gives himself up for the sake of his adopted daughter, Cosette, and her husband, Marius.

Portrait of young thinking bearded man student with stack of books on the table before bookshelves in the library

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Famous Novels, First Lines Quiz

Les Misérables presents a vast panorama of Parisian society and its underworld, and it contains many famous episodes and passages, among them a chapter on the Battle of Waterloo and the description of Valjean’s rescue of Marius by means of a flight through the sewers of Paris.

Stage and film adaptations

A popular musical stage adaptation was produced in 1980. Alain Boublil wrote the book and the lyrics, and Claude-Michel Schönberg wrote the music. It won best musical at the 1987 Tony Awards. The novel has also been adapted for film many times. An early film version was directed by Richard Boleslawski in 1935, featuring Fredric March as Valjean and Charles Laughton as Javert. In 1998 Bille August directed Liam Nesson (Valjean), Uma Thurman (Fantine), and Geoffrey Rush (Javert) in a version that was critically acclaimed but underperformed at the box office. A big-screen adaptation of the musical was released in 2012, directed by Tom Hooper and starring Hugh Jackman (Valjean), Anne Hathaway (Fantine), and Russell Crowe (Javert).

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by René Ostberg.