Although I studied the novel Jean Valjean in Grade 7, I just finished reading the complete, unabridged novel Les Misérables in early 1997, and it truly is one of the most wonderful books I’ve ever read. The characters are absolutely unforgettable. It took me over an hour to read the last ten pages because I was sobbing so hard!!
My favorite character in the novel was probably that of Jean Valjean. He is the one who is revealed to the reader in the most detail, and by the end of the book I’d come to regard him almost as a friend. I also adored the character of Enjolras, perhaps even more so than in the musical. His unwavering determination and belief in his dream is incredible, and to see it destroyed is heart-breaking.