The main character of Les Misérables is a man who spent 19 years in a penal camp for stealing a loaf of bread, with an extended sentence due to various escape attempts. After his release in 1815 he met Bishop Myriel. The man repents and sets himself the goal of becoming a morally good person. He decides to start over and leave his past as Jean Valjean behind. Under the name Madeleine, he works his way up society and even becomes a manufacturer and mayor of the village.