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Les Miserables By Victor Hugo Human injustice. The lifelong struggles of one man – Jean Valjean – and the people whose lives were affected by him. This complex story, with multiple ties in amongst itself, is Les Miserables. Jean Valjean was sent to the Toulon prison in France for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister’s family. He attempted to escape from prison five times, which led to a 19-year sentence, and had finally been discharged. In prison, he became bitter at mankind and left it convinced that he was a condemned man. Because of his convict status, he had a hard time trying to find food and shelter in the town of Digne, France. Finally, an old woman directed him to a house adjoining a church, where Monseigneur Bienvenu resided. Monseigneur Bienvenu was a bishop, and his kindness had earned him a reputation in the community. The only luxury items that he had in the house were some fine silver plates and candleholders, which he did not keep locked up. Valjean stole the candleholders in the middle of the night, and Monseigneur Bienvenu concluded that Valjean needed them more than he did. When Valjean was caught in the morning and brought to Monseigneur Bienvenu, he explained that he had given Val