Les Misérables is a musical with music by Alain Boublil, lyrics by Claude-Michel Schönberg, and adapted into English by Herbert Kretzmer. After nearly 20 years working on the chain gang Jean Valjean is finally released on parole only to find that the yellow ticket he is required by law to display marks him as an outcast, an undesirable not to be trusted. As Valjean struggles to make his way in his new life he encounters the Bishop of Digne who gives him a chance to start again. Police Inspector Javert cannot let this man slip away, he is determined to bring Valjean to justice. As Valjean leads a new life under a new name Javert is constantly looming around the corner and in the meantime revolution is in the air of Paris.