Les Miserablesy by Victor Hugo: Jean Valjean, An Angel in hell...

Les Miserables is a story of redemption, forgiveness, charity, salvation and moral obligation. The main character, Jean Valjean, enters the novel as a thief, having spent nineteen years in prison. He is given this second chance by M. Myriel, a prominent bishop, who offers Jean Valjean food and lodging, and by doing so he paves the way for Jean Valjean to live a life of financial prosperity and renewed spiritual faith. Jean Valjean poses as …

…By saving Cosette and finding love, he becomes an angel who is willing to save others even at his own expense. He saves Marius and Javert even when their deaths would have meant comfort for him. He chooses to reveal his identity even when it means he will lose what he loves. But all these things are better than the life he would have led, hidden, and without love, if he had stayed in heaven.