The Novel of the Century

This “impeccably researched and pithily written" volume reveals the dramatic life of Victor Hugo's literary masterpiece ( The New York Times ). Les Misérables is among the most popular and enduring novels ever written. Like Inspector Javert’s dogged pursuit of Jean Valjean, its appeal has never waned since its first publication in 1862. Whether we encounter Victor Hugo’s story on the page, onstage, or on-screen, Les Misérables continues to captivate while also, perhaps unexpectedly, speaking to