Victor Hugo's sweeping novel of French society was largely written during his exile on the Channel Islands, after he fell out with Napoleon III. Its central figure is Jean Valjean, a convict released after nineteen years who tries to rebuild his life while being hunted by the police inspector Javert. Around him move Fantine, her daughter Cosette, and the student Marius, whose story culminates in the Paris uprising of June 1832. The book combines adventure with long reflections on justice, poverty, history and the city. It was a huge success on publication and later inspired many films and a long-running stage musical.
Before and after
- 10 October 1861Birth of Fridtjof Nansen
- 25 October 1861Founding of Toronto Stock Exchange
- 9 November 1861Origins of Canadian football
- 1862Construction of Russian State Library
- 1862Publication of Les Misérables
- 18 January 1862Death of John Tyler
- 21 January 1862Founding of Opel
- 23 January 1862Birth of David Hilbert
- 15 May 1862Battle of Drewry's Bluff
More in Art, literature & culture
- from 18th century to 19th centuryRomanticism
- 1 November 1800Construction of White House
- c. 1900sRise of Expressionism
- c. 1900sRise of modernism
- 1907Rise of cubism
- c. 1910sRise of Dada
The era
This moment belongs to the Industrial era (1760 CE to 1914 CE), steam, factories and revolutions. You can also browse everything in the 19th century.