- Translation Classic Library (031) (Volumes 1 and 2)

Author: Victor Hugo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: Victor Hugo (1802–1885), a renowned French novelist and poet. Les Misérables is one of his major works. The protagonist, Jean Valjean, steals a loaf of bread to support his sister's seven children and is sentenced to five years of hard labor. He attempts to escape four times but fails each time, and is released after nineteen years. Later, he is moved by Bishop Myriel and reforms himself, changing his name to Madeleine, opening a factory, and becoming a wealthy man. He even becomes the mayor. He takes Cosette, the illegitimate daughter of Fantine, who is left at the Thénardiers' inn, and raises her. When Cosette grows up, she meets a young man with republican ideals, Marius, in the park and falls in love with him at first sight. At this time, a republican uprising breaks out. Jean Valjean rescues Marius, who is injured in the barricade battle, and helps the young couple get married. However, he himself is misunderstood, becomes depressed, and eventually passes away in the arms of Cosette and Marius.