Les Misérables

In 1815 a weary bishop named Myriel presides over a quiet French diocese, his life already marked by loss and the turbulence of revolution. Though once a member of the aristocracy, he has turned his attention to the poor, offering counsel and charity wherever it is needed. The narrative opens with his reflective thoughts on the social ills that still plague the nation—poverty, hunger, and the darkness that can envelop a child’s future.

A chance encounter brings a desperate stranger to Myriel’s doorstep, a moment that will test the bishop’s compassion and set the tone for the novel’s exploration of mercy. Their brief exchange hints at the larger moral struggles that will ripple through the streets of Paris and the lives of those it touches. As Myriel’s quiet kindness unfolds, listeners are invited into a world where personal conscience confronts a society in turmoil.