The Miserables (set of 2 books)

Spanning broad time frames (including the period of France from 1815 to 1832 and the brutally suppressed June uprising in Paris), the work is a historical drama that constantly refers the reader to the relevant events of that time. Victor Hugo critiques the policies of the Restoration era and the impoverished social conditions of the majority of the population. He imbues his characters with republican sentiments, making the novel revolutionary and anti-monarchical. The book covers a significant period of French history, including the Napoleonic Wars and the July Revolution of 1830. Victor Hugo employed real historical figures and events to create his characters and plot, which adds depth and realism to the book. Among the "miserables" are Jean Valjean, sentenced to twenty years of hard labor for stealing bread for his starving family, little Cosette, who transforms into a charming girl, and the joyful street urchin Gavroche. The confrontation between the criminal world of Paris and the police, the disputes between political parties and the battles on the barricades, monastic laws and the church system – a brilliant portrayal of French society in the early 19th century.