Les Misérables is a famous 1862 novel by Victor Hugo that follows several French characters from 1815 to 1832. It examines themes of law, justice, redemption, and love. The story focuses on Jean Valjean, an ex-convict who is released on parole but faces discrimination. He transforms his life and cares for an orphan girl named Cosette. The novel was later adapted into a popular musical that has been performed around the world for over 25 years.

2. Les Misérables (literally "The Miserable Ones“) is an
1862 French novel by author Victor Hugo and is
considered one of the greatest novels of the
nineteenth century. It follows the lives of several
French characters for a period of seventeen years in
the early nineteenth century, starting in 1815 and
culminating in the 1832 June Rebellion.

3. VICTOR HUGO
Victor-Marie Hugo was
a Poet, French novelist
and playwright whose
work has a great
influence on the concept
of romance and gives a
big boost in France.
Hugo was born on
February 26, 1802, in
Besançon, and was
educated both as private
tutors in public schools in
Paris.

4. He was a precocious child who at an early age decided to become a
writer. In 1817 the Académie française awarded him a poem and,
five years later, he published his first volume of poems.
In his works, Hugo presents a call for the release of the restrictions
imposed on the traditions of classicism.
The period 1829-1843 was the most productive in the career of
Victor Hugo. His great historical novel Notre Dame de Paris (1831),
made him famous and led him to appoint a member of the​​
Académie française in 1841.
In 1843 his daughter and her husband Leopoldine Charles
Vacquerie died, they both drowned in the Seine. He turned away
from poetry and devoted more actively into politics.
His family had always been a Bonapartist, and himself, in his youth,
was monarchy. In 1845 he became a peer of France by King Louis
Philippe, but when they saw the Revolution of 1848, Hugo was
already a Republican.
Hugo had to emigrate to Belgium in 1855.

5. HISTORIC CONTEXT
1. French Revolution Social and political conflict that emerged in France
in 1789 as a result of popular discontent.

6. 2. Napoleonic Wars The Napoleonic Wars were a series of
military conflicts that occurred during the time when Napoleon
ruled France. Were in part an extension of the conflict that
erupted because of the French Revolution.

7. 3. June Rebelion or the Paris Uprising of 1832, was an
unsuccessful, anti-monarchist insurrection of Parisian
Republicans (mostly joung students) from June 5 to June 6, 1832.

8. THE MUSICAL & THE NOVEL
The novel focuses on the struggles of ex-convict Jean Valjean and his
experience of redemption. It examines the nature of law and expounds
upon the history of France, politics, moral philosophy, antimonarchism,
justice, religion, and the types and nature of romantic and familial love. The
story is historical fiction because it contains factual and historic events.
This novel has been adapted to musical theater. This musical is one of the
most famous and represented throughout the world.
It has been represented over 25 years in dozens of cities like Tokyo,
London, Paris, New York, Washington, Budapest, Sydney, Oslo, Vienna,
Toronto ...
It has been represented in over 42 countries and translated into 21
languages.​​

9. The protagonist Jean Valjean escapes from prison,
where he was unjustly imprisoned.
Valjean wanders feeling rejected by everyone. He
steals, is caught by the police and he had to scape.
Valjean changes name to Monsieur Madeleine, he
became rich years later, money that serves him to help
the needy.

10. Admired and loved by the people, is forced to accept the
post of mayor. Valjean meets his pursuer Javert, the police
inspector who try to remember with great effort which has
been before the respected Mr. Magdalena.
Some time later, a farmer is confused with Jean Valjean
and he’s arrested so Jean decides to confess the truth to
free the farmer and he’s arrested again.

11. In those days a poor single mother named Fantine leaves her doughter
Cosette in the care of Jean Valjean after death.Jean accepted to protect the
girl so he had to scape from prison, rescues the orphan Cosette and move
to Paris.
After years Jean and Cosette came back just before the start of the June
Rebelion...

12. http://www.youtube.com/user/losmiserablesmusical#p/u/2/Gx-a-Pksp2A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5GzJ78TkLk