Les Misérables

Set in 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams, unrequited love, passion, sacrifice, and redemption. The narrative follows Jean Valjean, a French peasant, and his quest for redemption after serving nineteen years in jail for stealing a loaf of bread for his sister’s starving child. Valjean decides to break his parole and start his life anew after a kindly bishop inspires him, but he is relentlessly pursued by the dogmatic police inspector Javert.

Years later, Valjean becomes a wealthy factory owner and the mayor of a town. He adopts Cosette, the orphaned daughter of the tragic worker Fantine, rescuing her from the abusive Thénardiers. As Cosette grows into a young woman, she falls in love with Marius Pontmercy, a young student revolutionary. The story builds to a climax during the Paris June Rebellion of 1832, where the fates of Valjean, Javert, Marius, and Cosette collide amidst the barricades.