Les Misérables was inspired in part by the true story of Eugène-François Vidocq, who turned a criminal career into an anti-crime industry. He created the Bureau des Renseignements, said to be the world's first detective agency, in 1833, though he himself continued to be pursued by police.

What is the story behind the musical Les Misérables?

Set in early 19th-century France during the French Revolution, Les Misérables is the story of Jean Valjean, a French peasant, and his desire for redemption, released in 1815 after serving nineteen years in jail for stealing a loaf of bread for his sister's starving child.

Is Les Misérables based on history?

Les Misérables (/leɪ ˌmɪzəˈrɑːbəl, -blə/, French: [le mizeʁabl(ə)]) is a French historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published in 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. In the English-speaking world, the novel is usually referred to by its original French title.