Les Misérables Facts for Kids

Les Misérables is a famous novel written by Victor Hugo. It was first published in 1862. The story is about a man named Jean Valjean who was in prison for stealing bread to feed his sister's children. After being released, he tries to live a good life, but a police officer named Javert follows him.

The story of Les Misérables has been turned into movies many times. It has also become a very popular musical. The book shows what French society was like between the time of Napoleon and Louis Philippe I. One of the main characters, Marius, even joins in a real-life event called the June Rebellion. This was a time when people in Paris fought against the government.

Victor Hugo based some of his characters on real people. For example, Jean Valjean might be based on Eugène François Vidocq. He was a former criminal who later became a police chief. The kind Bishop of Digne might be based on Bienvenu de Miollis, who was a real bishop. Enjolras, a leader of the revolutionaries, might be based on Louise Michel, a French activist.

The Story of Les Misérables
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The Story of Les Misérables

The story begins by introducing a very kind man named Bishop Myriel. He always helps people who are poor. Then, we meet Jean Valjean. He was sent to prison for 19 years because he stole some bread to feed his sister's hungry children. After he is freed, he wanders around France. Bishop Myriel offers him a place to stay for the night.

Valjean tries to steal the Bishop's silver, but he gets caught. Instead of turning him in, the Bishop pretends he gave Valjean the silver. He tells Valjean to use it to become a good person. This act of kindness changes Valjean's life.

Jean Valjean's New Life

Jean Valjean decides to change his name to M. Madeline. He becomes a successful factory owner and the mayor of a town. One of his workers is a woman named Fantine. She has a young daughter named Cosette, who lives with a mean innkeeper family called the Thenardiers. Other women at the factory cause trouble, and Fantine loses her job.

Later, Fantine is attacked on the streets. Valjean protects her from the police and takes her to a hospital because she is very sick. Fantine tells Valjean about Cosette and asks him to save her. Sadly, Fantine is too sick and dies.

The Chase and Cosette's Rescue

A police officer named Javert starts to suspect Valjean. Javert finds out about Valjean's past and chases him. He arrests Valjean, but Valjean manages to escape from prison. He then goes to find Cosette.

Valjean rescues Cosette from the cruel Thenardiers and takes her to Paris. Javert continues to chase him. Eventually, Valjean finds a safe place where Cosette can go to school. He also finds a way to work safely without being discovered.

Marius and the Friends of the ABC

Meanwhile, a young man named Marius makes new friends at a place called the ABC Café. These friends, called the Friends of the ABC, are upset because many people are poor. They want the government to help the poor. They are especially hopeful about a government official named Jean Lamarque, who is very sick.

A girl named Eponine, who is the daughter of the Thenardiers, falls in love with Marius. However, Marius does not love her back.

Love and Revolution

When Cosette finishes school, she and Valjean move to a house on Plumet Street in Paris. There, Marius meets Cosette, and they fall in love. The Thenardiers, who have lost their inn, try to rob Valjean's house. But Eponine, who still cares for Marius, saves Valjean and Cosette from the robbery.

Then, Jean Lamarque dies. The Friends of the ABC are very angry. They build large walls, called barricades, out of furniture in the middle of Paris. The government sends the army, and Javert goes to spy on the Friends inside the barricades.

The Barricade and Javert's Fate

Valjean learns that Cosette loves Marius. He goes to the barricade to save Marius. While Javert is inside the barricades, the Friends discover he is a spy and tie him up. Valjean is supposed to kill Javert, but he decides not to. This confuses Javert greatly. Javert cannot understand why Valjean, a former prisoner, would show him mercy. He becomes so confused that he jumps off a bridge and drowns himself.

The army then attacks the barricade. Marius is almost shot, but Eponine saves him. Sadly, she is killed while protecting him. The fighting continues, and most of the Friends are killed. Valjean takes the injured Marius and drags him through the sewers to a safe place.

A Wedding and a Farewell

Cosette and Marius get engaged, meaning they are going to get married! Before their wedding, Valjean tells Marius that he plans to leave forever after the wedding. He still believes he is a bad person because of his past.

At the wedding, Marius learns that Valjean saved his life at the barricade. Marius and Cosette tell Valjean that they want him to stay. But Valjean is too sad and weak. He dies, and as he passes away, he sees Fantine again.

Images for kids

Eugène Vidocq, whose life helped inspire the character of Jean Valjean
Fantine by Margaret Hall
A portrait of "Cosette" by Emile Bayard, from the first edition of Les Misérables (1862)
Éponine stops a robbery at Valjean's house