Published in 1862, Les Misérables is considered a classic of world literature. A sprawling epics that focuses on the social outcasts of early 19th century France, it is both an homage to the French culture and a compendium of timeless observations of human nature.
Spanning over 1200 pages, the novel took Victor Hugo 17 years to complete. It is deeply informed by his revolutionary, democratic ideas, and by his spiritual views. Hugo intended the novel to have universal appeal: he wrote to his Italian publisher, "I don't know whether it will be read by everyone, but it is meant for everyone. [...] Wherever men go in ignorance or despair, wherever women sell themselves for bread, wherever...
