A life changed by an encounter
Les Misérables gives a central place to the bishop’s treatment of Jean Valjean. An act of mercy changes the direction of a life that the legal system has already classified.
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PEOPLE WORTH GETTING TO KNOW
Victor Hugo
Novelist, poet & dramatist
Hugo’s work brings social suffering, moral judgment, and the possibility of change into expansive stories.
The selected starting point here is Les Misérables.
A CLOSER LOOK
The story behind it.
Hugo’s work brings social suffering, moral judgment, and the possibility of change into expansive stories.
A novel with many scales
Hugo moves between intimate encounters, the streets of Paris, institutions, and public upheaval. The personal story unfolds within that larger social world.
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Author, publisher, or archive source (opens in a new tab)Source for Victor Hugo: Author, publisher, or archive source.
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Author, publisher, or archive source (opens in a new tab)A GOOD PLACE TO BEGIN
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Book
Les Misérables
Victor Hugo
A novel of justice, mercy, poverty, and the possibility of becoming someone different.
Explore the book →Sources & credits
Introductions are grounded in the sources below. Collection notes and reading prompts provide an editorial starting point; personal opinions are identified in the collection’s content.
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