Before Les Misérables Returns to the Screen, a Look at its Past

Tomorrow, Tom Hooper’s film adaptation of Les Misérables will debut in  theaters  nationwide to the delight of millions of fans.
For many, the star-studded cast and sweeping musical numbers are enough to distract from the rich historical text that lies behind every adaptation of Les Misérables. But a look back Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel reveals the social, political, and literary impact of a masterpiece that took Hugo nearly 20 years to write.
Patrik Henry Bass, books editor for Essence,  discusses the historical and cultural significance of Les Misérables.