"When I was 15, I was completely bowled over by Les Misrables.
All my life long I have continually been discovering fresh aspects of Hugo's genius."
Andr Maurois

Set in the Parisian underworld and plotted like a detective story, Les Misrables
follows Jean Valjean, originally an honest peasant, who has been imprisoned for nineteen
years for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister's starving family. A hardened criminal
upon his release, he eventually reforms, becoming a successful industrialist and town
mayor. Despite this, he is haunted by an impulsive former crime and is pursued
relentlessly by the police inspector Javert.

Hugo describes early nineteenth-century France with a sweeping power that gives his novel
epic stature. Among the most famous chapters are the account of the battle of Waterloo
and Valjean's flight through the Paris sewers.

Victor Hugo (1802-1885) was a poet, novelist, dramatist, and leader of the romantic movement in France. He also played an active part in political life. His literary works best known in English include Les Misérables, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Ninety-Three.

Frederick Davidson is a recipient of the Golden Voices Award and numerous Earphones Awards. After performing for years in many BBC radio plays, he came to America in 1976. He has narrated more than eight hundred audiobooks.