This is an 1887 hardcover edition of "The Idyll and the Epic", part of the Les Miserable series. This novel was written by Victor Hugo and was published by Little, Brown and Company. The gilt of the top edges is still bright, as well as on the cover and spine. The binding and interior pages are structurally sound, although the book is slightly cocked.

Hugo used Les Misérables to criticize the injustices of 19th century France. However, issues dealt with in the novel are universal and still resonate — the rights of women, intergenerational conflict, and cruelty of the justice system. Les Miserables consists of five volumes, each one containing multiple books, totaling 48.  The work of literature has been banned for many reasons over the years. Common reasons for banning it included displaying prostitution, murder, “portraying the Church as unimportant”, and glorifying the French Revolution. If you celebrate the freedom to read, this is an excellent novel to have in your collection.