Les+Miserables


 * Les Miserables **

Les Miserables is considered to be one of the greatest books written since the nineteenth century. This book is one of the most well-known stories around the world. It has been made into movies, plays and even television shows. The man behind the miraculous book was named Victor Hugo. Hugo was born on February 26, 1802 in Besancon, France, also known as the //green city// of France. Hugo is known as one //Hunchback of Notre-Dame// and of //Les Miserables//. Les Miserables was first published in 1862 in France. Les Miserables is set in France in the 1800's. The story starts with a man, Jean Valjean being released from prison after nineteen years. Soon after being released, Valjean steals. He stole this time from a twelve year old boy named Petit Gervais. Soon after, Valjean begins to use a fake name, Monsieur Madeleine. He is able to become a factory owner and the mayor of a town in France. He has acquired quite a bit of money. Valjean gets noticed by a police officer, who worked as a guard at the prison Valjean was in years ago, after doing something heroic. Ever since Valjean stole from the twelve year old boy, the authorities were still looking for him. Years earlier, one of Valjeans factory employees, Fantine, had to leave her beloved daughter, Cosette, in the hands of two very untrustworthy and abusive people. Fantine’s was later fired from the factory due to the discovery of her daughter. In order to meet her daughter’s caregivers demands to get her back, Fantine sells her hair and two front teeth and eventually resorts to prostitution. Unknowingly all the while she is slowly dying from an unknown disease. Not so much later in the story Fantine hits a man for harassing her in the streets. It happens to be the same officer who recognized Valjean. Officer Javert proceeds to arrest Fantine and throw her into prison. Mayor Madeleine, also known as Valjean, orders Javert to release Fantine. When she is released, Valjean promises he will bring Cosette to her and takes her to a hospital. When Javert crosses paths with Valjean again, he notifies him that he has reported him to the French Police. However, the French Police have informed him that he was wrong, because they had already found the real Jean Valjean. Valjean is in a tough situation, but decided to reveal his true identity to keep the innocent man out of prison. Javert follows Valjean back to Fantine's hospital room where he proceeds to grab him. Valjean asks for three days to find Cosette and bring her to Fantine, but Javert refuses. During which Fantine is protesting very loudly. Javert orders Fantine to be quiet and reveals Valjean's true identity to her. Fantine was soon overcome by her illness and shock and fell onto her bed and died. Valjean then leaves with Javert. Three days later Fantines body is found in a public grave. After escaping prison, being caught once again, and faking his own death Valjean is finally out of prison. He arrives at the place where Cosette is staying, Montfermeil, on Christmas Eve. He finds Cosette fetching water for her guardians and walks with her back to the inn. He orders food and watches the man and woman abuse Cosette. Days later Valjean returns with a gift for Cosette, a new expensive doll since the girls she lived with would endlessly mistreat her for playing with theirs. The next day Caljean tells Cosette's abuser that he wants to take Cosette with him and she immediately agrees. Valjean pays the couple 1,500 francs and leaves with Cosette. The duo flees to Paris Where they rent a house and live happily. Months later, Javert learns of Valjean's living arrangements which are against the law. Valjean and Cosette escape to Petit-Picpus convent where he becomes a gardener and Cosette becomes a student. Years later Valjean and Cosette cross paths with her past abusive caregivers. The man vowed revenge on Valjean and asks for help from the Patron-Minette, a French group of murderers and robbers. When Valjean returns with rent money, the group attacks him. Valjean attempts to escape through a window, but is tied up. Eventually, Valjean is able to manage a successful escape. After a battle between Marius, the man that helped Valjean escape, and the murderers who protected the Cosette’s past caregivers and soldiers at a French barricade, Valjean arrives at the barricade. Immediately, he saves a man’s life and contemplates whether to protect or kill Marius. As the barricade falls, Valjean carries an injured Marius through the sewers and then drops him off at his grandfather's home, believing he will be dead within minutes. Marius is able to slowly recover from the injuries. He and Cosette have fallen in love and begin to make wedding preparation. Valjean grants them 600,000 francs as a wedding present. After the wedding Valjean admits to Marius about his past as an ex-convict and Marius is horrified. Later in the story, Marius realizes Valjean was the one who saved him from the barricade. Cossette and Marius rush to Valjean’s home and find him near death. Valjean tells Cosette about her mother and her story, which gives him the peace he needs to die contently. This book is considered an art form in itself. It is loved by many people and many different cultures and it relates to the studies of our trip immensely. First of all, since it is so well known and a classic, it can teach us about French literature and French styles of writing because of its success. Second, this story explains many interesting parts of French history and tells a relatable story of how real people lived in France.