Les Misérables - Die Elenden

Valjean, once a convict for stealing a loaf of bread, builds a new identity as a respectable businessman after a bishop's act of mercy refuses to condemn him. The police inspector Javert, unable to believe that anyone can change, keeps tracking him. Their story intertwines with that of Fantine, who is forced into prostitution, her daughter Cosette, raised in the Thénardiers' inn, and the idealistic student Marius. The book culminates during the 1832 Paris uprising, with long essays on history, architecture, and the poor along the way.

Choose it if you want an epic that tackles crime, punishment, and forgiveness through memorable characters. It is long, but its best scenes, like the bishop's candlesticks and the barricade, stay with you.

Deep, contemplative and thought-provoking; a demanding read.

Best for readers like The Deep Diver. Which reader are you?