Les Misérables

by Victor Hugo

I only got round to reading this last year, at the age of fifty-two. Part of me wishes I had read it earlier, but then, on the other hand, there are many books that I wish I could read again for the first time so I’m glad I saved this one till later.

This is an analysis rather than a review, so I will be discussing plot.

This book opens gently with parable-like descriptions of the life of Monsignor Myriel, which are soothing and cathartic. As you heft the fifteen hund...