Incredible in scope and fascinating in its details, I hesitated to read the masterpiece, worrying that I wouldn’t be able to grasp all the meanings it implied. Thus, I have found myself a shortcut by watching the musical and then initiating my voyage of reading the book, which made it comparatively easier to comprehend.

As far as I see, Les Misérables, written by Victor Hugo, is an extraordinary book that powerfully portrays the resilience of the human spirit in the face of a cruel and dark 19th-century French society. The story centered around Jean Valjean, an ex-convict turned mayor, whose transformation from a man devoid of trust to someone radiating compassion and kindness serves as a beacon of selflessness. Throughout the book, a rich ensemble of characters contributes to the narrative, each leaving a lasting impact.

Jean Valjean's journey began as a prisoner, driven to steal bread to save his starving sister. As he was caught and sentenced to hard labor, he tried multiple attempts to escape, which had only further lengthened his sentence. Upon release, he found himself marginalized by society. Burdened by the labels as "Served Hard Labor" and "Be Vigilant" on his identification card, he couldn’t integrate into society. However, a compassionate priest offered him refuge and sustenance, which had profoundly touched Jean Valjean's heart. When Jean Valjean was later apprehended by the police, the priest intervened and declared that Jean Valjean had given him the stolen silverware, igniting his commitment to a selfless life. This experience led him to become a respected mayor.

Unbeknownst to Jean Valjean, he unknowingly dismissed Fantine, a destitute mother forced to resort to desperate measures. After Jean got to know Fantine’s helpless story, he was overwhelmed by the guild and thus went to great lengths to rescue her. Unfortunately, Fantine passed away, leaving her daughter behind. As Jean wanted to pursue redemption, he vowed to protect and nurture the young girl. Meanwhile, a relentless police officer, Javert, had witnessed Jean’s acts of compassion and had gradually altered his prejudice towards Jean. Instead of arresting Jean, Javert took his own life in the final act of defiance.

As a matter of fact, there is simply no way to summarize the book that was over 1200 pages long and covered almost every topic that you can think of. Nonetheless, it is most certainly not a cumbersome piece to bite. Despite the heavy moral overtones, it never came across as preachy or judgemental, as there was so much light and shade within the novel that would compel you to keep reading.

To me, the book was full of the power of love, especially when intertwined with faith. Hugo didn’t set out to tell a realist historical narrative, but a story of grace in the midst of strife, of values that can uphold and raise the human spirit in spite of abject pain and misery. The book deeply reflected on the fundamental values that lift the human spirit above mere existence and reminded us that the meaning of one’s life is not defined by an overarching plan of greatness nor any caption of identity, but by the simple acts of kindness, grace and love we are called to by the opportunities of each day. Gratefully, it functions as a powerful reminder that amidst the darkness of society, there are individuals who embody selflessness and sacrifice for others.