Discover the French bishop who inspired Victor Hugo in writing Les Misérables. Charles-François-Melchior-Bienvenu de Miollis, Bishop of Digne, France, (1753–1843) lived through the turbulent anti-religious sentiment of the French Revolution but never wavered in his faith, his loyalty to the Catholic Church, nor his resolve to attend to the spiritual and physical needs of his flock. His courageous evangelical fervor, simplicity, and embrace of radical poverty on behalf of the people to whom he ministered can be seen as forerunner to the spirituality of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux and will continue to inspire everyone who encounters him today. The inspiration for the kindly Bishop Myriel in Victor Hugo's acclaimed book and award-winning Broadway musical Les Misérables, Bishop Miollis' cause for canonization is underway. Each chapter is preceded by a beautiful work of art, featuring landscapes and portraits depicting typical life in Provence, the region where Bishop de Miollis ministered. The book includes a special prayer for his canonization. Foreword : Father Charles Honoré, postulator of the cause of canonization for Monseigneur de Miollis. Contributors: Françoise Delannoy, Jean-Paul Saugeron, and Father Charles Honoré, with the help of Bénédicte Delelis.