| Les Miserables is the story of the Miserable Ones of early 19th century Paris.
Jean Valjean stole a loaf of bread to feed his family. After 19 years in prison, he emerges a toughened convict ostracized by society. It takes a great act of love to transform him into an individual devoted to good. Fantine was used as a mistress by a man who had no intention of marrying her. After she bears his child, she must leave. She cannot even have the child with her--instead, she must leave this daughter, called Cosette, with the despicable Thenardiers. She has to beome a prostitute to pay for Cosette's upbringing. Meanwhile, Jean Valjean has reformed and taken Fantine in. He is living under an assumed name, and must give up his freedom to exonerate an innocent man. Javert (a villainous inspector) is always in hot pursuit of Jean. Fantine dies, but Jean promises to find and raise Cosette. He escapes from jail and keeps his promise, growing to love Cosette as his own. Eventually, Cosette falls for a young revolutionary named Marius, and Jean must give her up to him. Javert is constantly in pursuit, and the Thenardiers, from the con-artist father to the innocent youngest son and complicated elder daughter, make several appearances. The book as a whole is a moving commentary on love and social justice. | ||
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Plot & Themes Time/era of story - 1600-1899 Family, loving relations Yes Special relationship with - daughter Crime & Police story Yes Story of Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Main Character Gender - Male Profession/status: Age: - 40's-50's Ethnicity/Nationality Main Adversary Identity: - Male Age: - 40's-50's Profession/status: How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor Intelligence - Average intelligence Setting How much descriptions of surroundings? - 10 () Europe Yes European country: - France City? Yes City: - dirty, grimy (like New York) Small town? Yes Small town people: - very gullible, like Gomer Pyle Writing Style Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog |
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