what is les miserables about

"Les Misérables" is a French historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published in 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. The story has been popularized through numerous adaptations for film, television, and the stage, including a musical. The plot of "Les Misérables" centers around the life of Jean Valjean, a French peasant, and his desire for redemption after serving nineteen years in jail for stealing a loaf of bread for his sisters starving child. The story is set in early 19th-century France and examines the nature of law and grace, 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. Along the way, Valjean and a slew of characters are swept into a story of love, sacrifice, and revolution.