Les MisérablesLes Misérables
Score Classic
What it's about
Jean Valjean, released after nineteen years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread, is transformed by an act of kindness from a bishop. He builds a new life under a new name, rescues an orphan girl, Cosette, and is hunted for decades by the relentless policeman Javert. Their stories run through the slums of Paris and the student uprising of 1832.
Why it's worth reading
It was voted onto the BBC's Big Read and is one of the most famous novels ever written, the basis of the beloved musical.
You'll love it if you liked
War and Peace
David Copperfield
Bleak HouseGood to know
It's enormous, with long digressions on Waterloo, the Paris sewers and convents. Abridged editions exist.
By the numbers
- Readers91 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller50 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Funny
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Quick answers
Is Les Misérables worth reading?
Yes. It was voted onto the BBC's Big Read and is one of the most famous novels ever written, the basis of the beloved musical. It ranks #548 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 77.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Les Misérables about?
Jean Valjean, released after nineteen years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread, is transformed by an act of kindness from a bishop. He builds a new life under a new name, rescues an orphan girl, Cosette, and is hunted for decades by the relentless policeman Javert. Their stories run through the slums of Paris and the student uprising of 1832.
How long does it take to read Les Misérables?
About 36 hours (1458 pages), or about 10 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Les Misérables?
If you liked it, try War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, David Copperfield by Charles Dickens or Bleak House by Charles Dickens.