Les Miserables is a French historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published in 1862, and is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. Examining the nature of law and grace, the novel elaborates upon the history of France, the architecture and urban design of Paris, politics, justice, religion, and the types and nature of romantic and familial love. The novel contains various subplots, but the main thread is the story of ex-convict Jean Valjean, who becomes a force for good in the world but cannot escape his criminal past.