Les Misérables is a story of human struggles, victories, failures, love and desires, with the surrounding revolutionary fever serving as a common thread. One of Victor Hugo’s best-known works, the narrative spans many years as it describes the protagonist Valjean’s release from prison and transformation into an industrialist while being relentlessly pursued by Inspector Javert, a morally rigid figure. Les Misérables, Victor Hugo’s crowning achievement, was an instant hit both in France and internationally due to its advocacy for the underprivileged and dispossessed.