Les Misérables - Unabridged

Q: Do I have to buy the ebook to participate in a book club?

No, you don’t have to buy the ebook to participate, but we do recommend it to get the most out of your club. There are several premium social reading features that are only available when you buy the ebook, like annotations, reactions, comment threads, resources, discussion prompts, and more, all embedded right in the text. It’s a unique and immersive way to read.

Q: Why can’t I buy the ebook on the app?

It’s annoying, we know. App store rules prevent us from selling directly in the app, so for now you can only purchase ebooks on our website. Don’t worry: when you purchase an ebook on the web, it’s automatically added to your bookshelf in the app.

Q: How is Fable’s reader different from Kindle?

Kindle is a straightforward e-reader; Fable is an interactive e-reader that includes social features inside the ebooks. When you read an ebook on Fable, you can see and react to the text with others in real time. Start a discussion, share highlights and quotes, add emoji reactions—all of it lives right inside the book. It’s hard to explain and easy to see, so we recommend reading the free sample in one of our most active clubs to get a feel for it.

Q: Do you sell physical books too?

We do not sell physical books at this time. Wish we did? Let us know why here!

Q: Are book clubs free to join on Fable?

Most of our clubs are completely free to join. The only exceptions are clubs marked as “Premium” or “Career Development,” which do require a fee. You can find out more on each club’s detail page.

Q: How do I start a book club with this book on Fable?

The first step is to download the Fable app. From there, you’ll be able to create your own private or public book club and invite others to read with you. Once your club is created, click on the plus sign under “Currently reading” and search for this book to add it to your club.

By Victor Hugo & Isabel Hapgood &

Publisher Description

Already considered the finest writer in France at the time, Victor Hugo forever solidified his rank as France's premiere novelist with the publication of "Les Misérables" in 1862. A sweeping epic that spans decades, "Les Misérables" is considered one of the finest novels ever written and it's characters have become household names thanks to the enormous success of the musical adaptation of the book, which still plays to packed houses around the world.

A passionate advocate on behalf of the poor and destitute, Hugo sets his novel among the lowest of the low, the dregs of society, the dispossessed¿the miserable. The novel introduces us to Jean Valjean, the physically powerful but wretched bread thief who manages to escape his bonds and flee, pursued by the tireless policeman Javert, a single-minded lawman who has sworn to bring Valjean to justice. Along the way, we meet the tragic young mother Fantine, who has turned to a life of prostitution to support her daughter Cosette only to fall into disgrace, disease and death. When Fantine dies and Cosette is entrusted to the now-rich and secretive Valjean, the plot turns on how Cosette will be able to live her life; either on the run with her adopted father or in the arms of her true love, the revolutionary student Marius.

Sweeping in its scope and power, "Le Misérables" is one of the world's most cherished and honored novels and we present it here in it's original and unabridged format, translated by Isabel F. Hapgood.

Download the free Fable app

Stay organized

Keep track of what you’re reading, what you’ve finished, and what’s next.

Build a better TBR

Swipe, skip, and save with our smart list-building tool

Rate and review

Share your take with other readers with half stars, emojis, and tags

Curate your feed

Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communities

Stay organized

Keep track of what you’re reading, what you’ve finished, and what’s next.

Build a better TBR

Swipe, skip, and save with our smart list-building tool

Rate and review

Share your take with other readers with half stars, emojis, and tags

Curate your feed

Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communities

No Reviews

About Victor Hugo

Victor Hugo was a French Romantic author, poet, playwright, illustrator and politician. Hugo's sixty year career established him as a national treasure and his works have been adapted numerous times to the stage and screen. Born into a military family, Hugo had a tumultuous early life, moving from place to place with his mother and brothers. He began writing and publishing poetry when he was still in school. Upon graduation, he began a literary magazine with his brothers, married his childhood sweetheart Adèle Foucher and began publishing both novels and poetry collections at a furious rate. His early success encouraged Hugo to branch out into writing for the theatre and soon he became one of the country's most venerated playwrights as well. Already a much-admired poet and novelist, Hugo surpassed himself in 1831 with the publication of"The Hunchback of Notre Dame." The immense popularity of the novel even forced the French authorities to restore the much-neglected cathedral. Growing more and more involved with social justice issues as he grew older, Hugo published the groundbreaking novel "Les Misérables" in 1862, which highlighted the plight of the poor and destitute. An unprecedented success, "Les Misérables" had an enormous impact on French society and the book remains Hugo's crowning achievement. Hugo joined the Académie Française, then the Parliament and finally the National Assembly, but he was forced into exile for opposing Napoleon III. After Napoleon fell from power in 1870, Hugo returned to France and eventually became a member of the Senate, never flagging in his fight for social justice. Victor Hugo died of pneumonia in 1885 and his funeral became the event of the year, with over two million mourners joining the funeral procession. Today, Hugo is revered as a towering figure in French letters. His works have inspired countless authors and have resulted in dozens of adaptations, including motion pictures, plays, musicals and even animated features. As a titan of both the publishing and political worlds, Hugo's literary and social legacy cannot be overstated.