Hugo, Victor (1802-1885) - French poet, dramatist, and novelist who was a
leader in the French romantic movement. Hugo was a politically active man
whose humanitarianism was generally regarded as a poet's dream.
Les Miserables (1862) - An epic novel of nineteenth century France. Jean
Valjean, one of society's victims, steals a loaf of bread and is imprisoned
for five years; a failed escape attempt increases his sentence to nineteen
years. After his release he is relentlessly pursued by Inspector Javert.
