Cosette

Victor Hugo’s novel "Les Misérables" was completed in 1861. It became one of the acknowledged masterpieces of world classical literature. The images of the convict Valjean, the unfortunate Fantine, the cruel inspector Javert, the greedy, heartless Thénardier, the novel’s little heroes — the Paris gamin Gavroche and gentle Cosette — entered the minds of millions of readers around the world.

Little Cosette, the adopted daughter of the generous Jean Valjean, may at first glance seem to many like a Cinderella of the nineteenth century. But she is not a fairy-tale character, but one drawn from life itself. All his indignation at the greed of the rich, condemning poor children to a hungry, impoverished life, all his compassion for these unfortunate, frightened, mistreated little ones, Hugo poured into the touching image of Cosette.