Les Miserables in french mean The Miserable Ones, The Poor Ones,, The Victims published in 1862, is a novel by French author Victor Hugo, and among the best-known novels of the 19th century.

It follows the lives and interactions of several French characters over a twenty year period in the early 19th century that includes the Napoleonic wars and subsequent decades. Principally focusing on the struggles of the ex-convict Jean Valjean who seeks to redeem himself,

It examines the nature of good, evil, and the law, in a sweeping story that expounds upon the history of France, architecture of Paris, politics, moral philosophy, law, justice, religion, and the types and nature of romantic and familial love.

The story starts in 1815, in Toulon. After five years of imprisonment in the bagne of Toulon for stealing bread for his starving sister and her family, and fourteen more for numerous attempts to escape, the peasant Jean Valjean is released.

However, he is required to carry a yellow passport, which marks him as a convict.

Rejected by innkeepers, who do not want to take in a convict, Valjean sleeps on the street. However, the benevolent Bishop Myriel takes him in and gives him shelter. In the night, he steals the bishop’s silverware and runs. He is caught, but the bishop rescues him by claiming that the silver was a gift and at that point gives him two candlesticks as well. The bishop then tells him he must become an honest man and must perform good deeds for others. As Valjean broods over these words, he accidently steals a child's money, and chases the child away. Soon after he realizes his mistake, and decides to follow the bishop's advice. He searches the city for the child whose money he stole. At the same time, his theft is reported to the authorities, which now look for him as a repeat offender.

Six years later, Valjean, having assumed the pseudonym of Monsieur Madeleine to avoid capture, has become a wealthy factory owner and is appointed mayor of his adopted town. Valjean meets the dying Fantine, who has been fired from her job at his factory and has resorted to prostitution.

She has a young daughter, Cosette, who lives with a corrupt innkeeper and his selfish, cruel wife. As Fantine dies, Valjean, seeing in Fantine similarities to his former life of hardship, promises her that he will take care of Cosette, despite the imminent threat of arrest.

The town's police inspector Javert had already suspected the identity of Madeleine and Valjean, whom he had seen in jail but this suspicion is momentarily dispelled when another man, mistakenly accused of being Valjean, is put on trial.

To save the man, Valjean reveals himself to the court and is sent to jail. During his incarceration, Valjean fakes his death and escapes. He pays off the innkeeper, Thénardier, to obtain Cosette, and flees with her to Paris. Once in Paris, they find shelter in a convent.

Ten years later, as Cosette and Valjean are leaving the convent, students, led by Enjolras, are preparing a revolution on the eve of the Paris uprising on June 5–6, 1832, following the death of General Lamarque, the only French leader who had sympathy towards the working class. They are also joined by the poor, including the young street urchin Gavroche.

One of the students, Marius Pontmercy, who has become alienated from his family because of his liberal views, falls in love with Cosette, who has grown to be very beautiful.

The Thénardiers, who have also moved to Paris, lead a gang of thieves to raid Valjean’s house while Marius is visiting. However, Thénardier’s daughter, Éponine, who is also in love with Marius, convinces the thieves to leave.

"The War: Defence of Paris—Students Going to Man the Barricades". - a real-life scene from the Siege of Paris, eight years after Hugo's novel was published.The following day, the students revolt and erect barricades in the narrow streets of Paris.

Valjean, learning that Cosette's lover is fighting, joins them, not certain if he wants to protect Marius, or kill him. Éponine also joins to protect Marius and ends up taking a bullet for him and dying happily in his arms.

During the ensuing battle, Valjean saves Javert from being killed by the students and lets him go. Valjean carries off the injured Marius, but all others, including Enjolras and Gavroche, are killed. Valjean escapes through the sewers, carrying Marius' body on his shoulders.

At the exit, he runs into Javert, whom he persuades to give him time to return Marius to his family. Javert grants this request and another, and then realizes that he is caught between his belief in the law and the mercy Valjean has shown him, as he can no longer give Valjean up to the authorities.

Unable to cope with this dilemma, Javert throws himself into the Seine. Marius and Cosette are soon married. Valjean confesses to Marius that he is an ex-convict. Marius is horrified.

Convinced that Valjean is of poor moral character, he steers Cosette away from him. Valjean loses the will to live and takes to his bed. Marius learns of Valjean's good deeds too late and rushes to Valjean's house, where he lies dying.

Valjean reveals his past to the pair and in his final moments realizes happiness finally with his adopted daughter and son-in-law by his side. He expresses his love to them, and then dies.