Les Misérables: chapter-by-chapter summary of the historical-social novel by the French poet and writer Victor Hugo and published in 1862.
The novel “ Les Miserables ” was written by Victor Hugo (Besancon, 1802 – Paris, 1885) over a long period of time from 1839 to 1862, the year of publication.
During the long writing Hugo changed his political opinions, but he never changed his interest in the misery of the people.
The novel is his best-known work and, perhaps, the most popular work of all contemporary European literature, universally known.
Over time, the work has aroused mixed reactions: some have denigrated it, but for the majority of critics and readers it has represented a true masterpiece.
LES MISERABLES, CHAPTER 1 SUMMARY: FANTINE
Les Miserables is made up of five parts. The first is entitled “ Fantine ” and we immediately meet the main character of the whole book: Jean Valjean, an ex-convict who served nineteen years in prison for stealing a piece of bread for his starving nephews.
He is tired, hungry, but everyone chases him away. Only the good bishop Bienvenue welcomes him and he reciprocates by robbing him of his silver but, when Jean Valjean is caught again, the bishop tells the gendarmes that he gave it to him.
This encounter completely changes Jean Valjean’s soul: now he is good, from now on he will dedicate his life to others.
He hides under a false name and becomes rich. He meets Fantine, a poor single mother exploited by a couple of scoundrels, the Thenardiers, who host her little girl at a high price, treating her like a slave.
Fantine becomes a prostitute, falls ill and dies. Jean Valjean promises to take care of his Cosette, but is recognized by the policeman Javert and ends up in jail to save a poor man condemned in his place.
LE MISERABLES, CHAPTER 2: LITTLE THINGS
The second part of the book is entitled “ Cosette ” and begins with a long description of the battle of Waterloo. This narrative serves to introduce the shady character of Thenardier, but above all to explain Hugo’s feelings towards Napoleon .
We then find the convict Jean Valjean who saves a prisoner, then pretends to drown, so that everyone believes him dead and he can finally look for Cosette, Fantine’s daughter. He finds her, frees her from the Thenardiers’ exploitation and takes her away with him.
He is recognized by the usual Javert and enters the Petit Picpus convent as the brother of Fauchelevent, an old man whose life he had saved, where he will remain with the little girl until the old man’s death.
LE MISERABLES, CHAPTER 3: MARIUS
The third part is entitled “ Marius ” and begins with a detailed study of Paris. In the book you can feel Hugo’s love for this city and its inhabitants, which he describes minutely as if he were painting a large fresco.
Here we meet Marius and his grandfather. The two argue because the boy has discovered that his father was a brave soldier and had not abandoned him, as his grandfather had led him to believe.
Marius leaves home, refuses his grandfather’s money and meets the “friends of the ABC”, a group of lazy students, always talking about girls and politics, with whom he becomes friends.
Meanwhile, the boy looks for Mr. Thenardier because he believes that he saved his father during the war and wants to help him.
Here we also meet the “Patron-Minnette”, the group of the worst criminals in Paris, who organize an ambush against Jean Valjean.
LES MISERABLES, CHAPTER 4: THE IDYLL OF RUE PLUMET AND THE EPIC OF RUE SAINT-DENIS
In the fourth part, “ The Idyll of Rue Plumet and the Epic of Rue Saint-Denis ”, we witness the secret meetings between Marius and Cosette in the latter’s garden and the beginning of the revolutionary movements of 1832.
Jean Valjean is afraid of being discovered and especially of being separated from Cosette, so he decides to leave.
Meanwhile, the friends of the ABC build a barricade in front of the “Corinth” inn. In addition to them, there are Gavroche and Eponine, children of the Thenardiers, Javert and Marius.
Little Gavroche has to deliver a letter from Marius to Cosette, but Jean Valjean takes it and, after reading it, goes to the barricade.
LES MISERABLES, SUMMARY OF THE LAST CHAPTER: JEAN VALJEAN
The last part is entitled “ Jean Valjean ” and begins with the events of the revolt. Gavroche dies to recover some bullets, Jean Valjean instead of killing Javert lets him escape, Eponine dies to save Marius.
Eventually the barricade is taken and all the members are killed, except Marius. Jean Valjean recovers him unconscious and takes him to his grandfather’s house, passing through the sewers.
At the exit he meets Javert and allows himself to be arrested, but the policeman lets him go and then commits suicide. Marius recovers and, shortly after, marries Cosette.
Jean Valjean tells Marius that he is a wanted man and asks to be able to visit Cosette every now and then, but feeling rejected by Marius he lets himself die.
Marius discovers the truth about the man and rushes to him with Cosette, just in time to ask for his forgiveness before he dies.
