Les Misérables

American  

[ley mee-zey-ra-bl^uh] / leɪ mi zeɪˈra blə /

noun

1. a novel (1862) by Victor Hugo.

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Les Misérables Cultural  

1. (1862) A novel by Victor Hugo. The central character, Jean Valjean, is sentenced to prison for stealing a single loaf of bread. Later, seeking respectability, Valjean is hounded by his archenemy, Inspector Javert.

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The broad canvas of Hugo's novel has been adapted for numerous films and a long-running Broadway (see also Broadway) musical (usually known as Les Miz).

Example Sentences

But his wish list of non-woke repertory, which also included Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera, draws on an attachment that predates his entry into national politics: Broadway musicals.

From Slate • Jun. 11, 2026

"She dreamt bigger than all of us," he told BBC News, referring to her 2009 Britain's Got Talent performance of I Dreamed A Dream from Les Misérables.

From BBC • Dec. 17, 2025

Les Misérables was adapted from Hugo's 1862 novel for a French album in 1980 and a stage show the following year.

From BBC • Oct. 2, 2025

At a young age, Bailey was an actor in the Royal Shakespeare Company and appeared in West End productions like "Les Misérables."

From Salon • Dec. 9, 2024

One was a weeknight performance of Les Misérables at a theater not far from the office.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama