What is Les Misérables?
[[File:Cosette-sweeping-les-miserables-albert-bellenger-1886.jpg|thumb|Cosette, one of the main characters, sweeping the floor.]] {{italictitle}} '''''Les Misérables''''' is a [[novel]] by [[Victor Hugo]]. It was published on 31 March 1862. The story is about a former [[convict]] named Jean Valjean. He tries to find a meaningful life, but is followed by a [[police officer]]. The story has been made into [[movie]]s several times. It has also been made into a [[musical]]. He is trying to run away after being convicted by the police since he stole bread to feed his sister's children. The work describes French society between the reign of [[Napoleon]] and that of [[Louis Philippe I]]. One of the main characters, Marius, takes part in the [[June Rebellion]]. Hugo based some of his characters on the lives of real people. That way, Valjean is probably based upon [[Eugène François Vidocq]]. He probably used the story of [[Bienvenu de Miollis]] to base the Bishop of Digne on. De Mollis was the bishop of Digne from 1805 to 1838. Enjolras, a revolutionary leader is probably based on [[Louise Michel]], a French [[anarchist]]. == Plot == '''''Les Misérables''''' starts by describing the life of the nice Bishop Myriel who is always helping the poor. Then the book talks about Jean Valjean, a man who was arrested because he stole some bread to feed his sister's children. He is freed from prison after 19 years and he wanders through France until the Bishop takes him in for the night. Valjean tries to steal the Bishop's silverware, but he is caught. The Bishop pretends that he gave Valjean the silverware and tells him to be good. Jean Valjean changes his name to M. Madeline and becomes a factory owner and the town's mayor. One of his workers is named Fantine. She had a child called Cosette who lives with an evil innkeeper named Thenardier. The other women in the factory get Fantine fired or removed from her job. When Fantine is attacked by a man on the streets, Valjean protects her from the police and takes her to the hospital