Etude en anglais du roman Les misérables de Victor Hugo

his article is about the novel. For the musical theatre adaptation, see Les Misérables (musical). For other uses, see Les Misérables (disambiguation).

Les Misérables

Portrait of "Cosette" by Emile Bayard, from the original edition of Les Misérables (1862)

Author(s) Victor Hugo

Illustrator Emile Bayard

Country France

Language French

Genre(s) Epic Novel, Historical Fiction

Publisher A. Lacroix, Verboeckhoven & Cie.

Publication date 1862

Les Misérables (usually pron.: /leɪ ˌmɪzəˈrɑːb/; French pronunciation: ​[le mizeʁabl(ə)]) is a French historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published in 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the nineteenth century. In the English-speaking world, the novel is usually referred to by its original French title, which can be translated from the French as The Miserables, The Wretched, The Miserable Ones, The Poor Ones, The Wretched Poor, or The Victims. Beginning in 1815 and culminating in the 1832 June Rebellion in Paris, the novel follows the lives and interactions of several characters, focusing on the struggles of ex-convict Jean Valjean and his experience of redemption.[1]

Examining the nature of law and grace, the novel elaborates upon the history of France, the architecture and urban design of Paris, politics, moral philosophy, antimonarchism, justice, religion, and the types and nature of romantic and familial love. Les Misérables has been popularized through numerous adaptations for the stage, television, and film, including a musical and a 2012 film version of that musical.

The appearance of the novel was highly anticipated and advertised. Critical reactions were very diverse, but most of them were negative. Commercially, the work was a great success, not just in France, but also in the rest of Europe and the world.

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