Les Miserables is an epic tale of the very poor in spirit and body who suffer throughout their lives. Set in 19th century France, it tells the story of Jean Valjean, an ex-convict, who is able to rebuild his life. Author Kathryn M. Grossman concludes, “Les Miserables is a work to which one can return time and time again without a sense of having exhausted the possibilities. Like its multifaceted hero, it can be viewed …showed first 75 words of 1106 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1106 total…the reform of Jean Valjean, his hero of justice, and his victim of society, as divine intervention. This leads the reader to believe that Hugo stressed the philosophy and ideal of adherent good in all mankind, despite the situations into which they are placed. Forged by this ideal, the principle behind Les Miserables is that against social persecution and a world of corruption, good can still flourish and live in the hearts of all mankind.