Chapter 1
Jean Valjean
It is the year 1796, and the people of France are hungry.Jean Valjean is one of these poor people.And he has no work, he cannot find work, and he is hungry.So he steal a loaf of bread.France sends Jean Valjean to prison for nineteen years.Nineteen years in prison – for a loaf of bread!In 1815, when he leaves prison, Jean Valjean is a different man.One evening in October, in the year 1815, he was a knock on the door of the bishop of Digne's house.'Come in. You must eat dinner with us, and sleep in a warm bed tonight.'the bishop said.By morning Valjean was a long way from the bishop's house.He steal silver plates of the bishop.The police went after Jean Valjean, found him, and took him back to the bishop's house in the afternoon.'He isn’t a thief.I gave the silver to Monsieur Valjean.'the bishop said to policemen.The policemen went away, and the bishop put the two silver candlesticks into Jean Valjean's hands.'You must leave your bad life behind you. This is God's silver, and I am giving it to you. With it, you can begin a new, good life.'he said.Jean Valjean left the town of Digne, with his silver plates and his silver candlesticks. Suddenly, he was a rich man.
Chapter 2
Fantine
Now we meet Fantine.She is a single mother.People are not kind to a woman with a child but no husband.So she couldn't find work.She leaves her little daughter Cosette with Monsieur and Madame Thénardier.They ask for seven francs a month.In Montreuil Fantine finds work in a factory.This is the factory of Monsieur Madeleine, an important man in the town, and very rich.But nobody knows his family, or anything about him.The next year the Thénardiers asked for twelve francs a month; the year after that, they wanted fifteen francs.Then Fantine lost her job at the factory, because the women did not like her.Fantine found work making shirts.She was often ill, with a small dry cough.Soon another letter came from the Thénardiers: 'Send one hundred francs, or Cosette must leave our house.'A hundred francs! How can a poor woman get that kind of money? There was only one way.One cold winter evening, outside a restaurant in the centre of Montreuil, a woman walked up and down.The woman was Fantine.A tall policeman arrived, and pulled Fantine away.This policeman was inspector Javert.Javert took Fantine to the office of police.'That's a crime.You're getting six months in prison.'he told her.'One moment, please,' said a new voice.Everybody turned to look at the door, and there stood the good, the great Monsieur Madeleine.'She must go free.She did nothing wrong.' said Monsieur Madeleine.Fantine began to cough.Javert's cold eyes stared at Monsieur Madeleine.'Were you ever at Toulon?'he said.Monsieur Madeleine’s eyes were Suddenly very watchful.'No, I don't know Toulon,' he said.Monsieur Madeleine took Fantine to the little hospital in Montreuil.Monsieur Madeleine listened to her sad story, and the next day he sent money to the Thénardiers.But Fantine was now very ill.'Monsieur Madeleine, you are so kind to me. I want to see my daughter, one last time. Please can you bring Cosette to me? Please, Monsieur!'Fantine said.Suddenly Javert came into the room, with four policemen.'Jean Valjean, prisoner at Toulon, I am arresting you,' Javert said.'Inspector, give me three days,'Monsieur Madeleine said.'Three days, to bring this poor woman's child to her before she dies. Then you can take me.'Fantine stared at Javert, and tried to speak, but she could not.She was dead.Javert put Monsieur Madeleine in a locked room in the police office, but in the night he broke down the door and escaped.
Chapter 3
Cosette
Monsieur and Madame Thénardier lived in a village called Montfermeil near Paris.Cosette ran to the river and then, with her heavy bucket of water, she began to walk home.And suddenly, the bucket was gone. A great hand came down and took it from her. She looked up and saw a big man in an old yellow coat.They walked to the Thénardiers' house.'Fantine is dead, so you can get no more money from her. Here' – he put some money on the table – 'is 1500 francs. Now call the child. I'm taking her away.'the big man said to Monsieur Thénardier.Hand in hand, they walked away on the road to Paris.When Valjean escaped from Montreuil, Javert came to Paris to look for him.Once, Valjean saw Javert by the river, and the next day he looked for a new place to live. He found one, behind the high walls of a girls' school. The school gave Valjean a job as a gardener, and he lived in a little house in the big gardens. Cosette lived in the school.And so the years passed.
Chapter 4
Marius
Nine years pass.Cosette and Marius fall in love.But Valjean doesn't like him,he was afraid of losing his dear daughter.And one day Jean Valjean said to Cosette, 'My dearest child, we live in dangerous times. We must leave France and go to England.'But Marius had no money, no passport.
Chapter 5
Love and Rrebellion
It is June 1832, and students and workers are running through the streets of Paris, bringing rebellion to the city, and everyone must fight the government.Marius is one of them.Marius asked Gavroche to send a letter to Cosette.Gavroche is a boy.Gavroche came up the street, looking at the house numbers. He saw Valjean and stopped.He gave Valjean the letter.Jean Valjean read it quickly.A little later, he left the house, wearing dark clothes and carrying a gun, and walked away down the street.
Chapter 6
The Barricades
Enjolras was the leader of the students.The rebels did not like spies.Four of Enjolras's men jumped on Javert, pulled him into the tavern behind the barricade, and tied him to the wall.Daylight comes, and the shooting begins. Ratatat-ratatat-ratatat on the barricade.Valjean saves Enjolras's life. Valjean carries the bodies into the tavern, sees Javert. And Javert sees him. Then the shooting stops.Valjean took Javert out of the tavern to a little street behind.He cut the ropes around Javert's arms and legs.'The next time we meet, you can arrest me. Now, go!'Valjean said.Now the second attack began.Marius was one of the last men still alive, but then one, two bullets hit him, and he fell.Valjean picked him up and ran through the back streets. Javert help he to take Marius home.'Take the boy in,' said Javert. 'I'm waiting for you here at the door.'Then Valjean came back downstairs and out into the street. Javert was gone.
Chapter 7
Love and Death
Marius lies for a long time between life and death, but months later, he is well again.Cosette visits him every day, and this of course helps him a lot.The two young people marry, and live in the house of Marius's grandfather in the Marais.A new life begins for everybody, but there are still secrets from the past, and Valjean wants to tell them.Death is coming for him at last, he feels. He calls Cosette and Marius to his bedside.Cosette hears the story of Fantine's sad life.Then his great hands are still, and do not move again.