An epic portrait of crime, punishment, exile, justice, redemption, love, despair and high idealism, <i>Les Mis&eacute;rables</i> is justifiably regarded as one of the greatest novels of all time. At its heart are the reverberations rippling from the life of one man. Jean Valjean.<br />Imprisoned in the Bagne of Toulon for 19 years for the original crime of stealing a loaf of bread, Valjean emerges embittered; fuelled by rage at a broken system of justice. When the course of his life is changed by a single, unexpected act of faith and generosity he begins a life of escape and reparation. Yet as he attempts to forge a place in society Valjean is forever dogged by the pursuit of tenacious policeman Javert, who sees in the law only an immoveable and undeniable force to be obeyed at all costs.