Jadnici

It follows the lives and relationships of several French characters over a twenty-year period in the early 19th century that includes the Napoleonic era and the decades after it.

The novel mainly deals with the life and works of its protagonist — former convict Jean Valjean — who is trying to redeem himself, and through the effects of Valjean's works, the author's social commentary can be glimpsed. The novel explores the nature of good, evil and law, and also deals with the history of France, the architecture of Paris, politics, moral philosophy, law, justice, religion, and the types and nature of romantic and family love.

For his novel, Hugo was inspired by the life of a real person – former criminal and famous police officer Eugene-François Vidocq, whose character is split into two main characters in the novel. Les Misérables is also known for many theatrical and film adaptations, of which perhaps the most famous is the pop-opera of the same name, sometimes known by the nicknames "Les Mis" or "Les Miz".