Quote by Victor Hugo: “The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved.”

Knowing — truly knowing — that someone loves you is the deepest source of contentment human beings can experience. Hugo wasn't just talking about romance; he meant the bone-deep security that comes from being genuinely seen and valued by another person.

Les Misérables was published in 1862, during Hugo's exile from France under Napoleon III. The novel's depiction of poverty, injustice, and the possibility of redemption appeared as France was industrializing rapidly and the conditions of the urban poor were deteriorating sharply.

French poet, novelist, and dramatist, one of the most celebrated figures in French literary history. His novels Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre-Dame combine social criticism with sweeping romantic storytelling and remain widely read worldwide.