Les Misérables
Part 7 of 7
by Victor Hugo
Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables follows Jean Valjean, a former prisoner seeking a new life, as his past continues to shape his choices and relationships. Set against the social hardships and political unrest of nineteenth-century France, the story brings together themes of justice, mercy, poverty, sacrifice, and redemption.
This radio adaptation presents Hugo’s expansive novel as a dramatic performance, bringing its characters and conflicts to life through spoken dialogue and sound. The story’s emotional focus rests on Valjean’s struggle to act with compassion while evading the relentless pursuit of Inspector Javert, alongside the lives of people whose paths cross his.
The result is a serious, humane drama, moving between intimate personal dilemmas and a broader portrait of a society in upheaval. Its enduring appeal lies in the tension between law and conscience, and in the possibility of change even after a life marked by hardship.
This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.