Redemption, revolution, and mercy in 19th-century France — in emoji.
Ex-convict Jean Valjean, jailed for stealing bread, breaks parole to build an honest life and raise an orphan, while the relentless Inspector Javert hunts him against the backdrop of a Paris uprising.
Here's what each part of the emoji story means, beat by beat.
The main characters, one emoji each — tap any to copy.
The redeemed ex-convict.
The unbending inspector.
The orphan he raises.
The idealistic young revolutionary.
A copyable set of emojis that capture the book's vibe. Tap any emoji, or copy them all.
One of the longest novels ever written, it includes a 19-page digression on the Paris sewer system.