Book VI: Javert, Chapter I: The Beginning of Repose
Victor Hugo
Nestled in the broader tapestry of conflict and redemption in Les Misérables, this line offers a moment of serene intimacy. Victor Hugo contrasts the harshness of the world outside with the sanctuary found in a mother's embrace. At a time when industrialization and war were reshaping society, Hugo captures the refuge of maternal tenderness—a sanctuary untouched by the tumult of human progress.