Editing Jean Valjean (section)

== Musical ==
{{See also|Les Misérables (musical)}}

'''Les Misérables became an Award Winning musical in London, 1985.'''

[[File:John Owen-Jones as Jean Valjean.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|[[John Owen-Jones]] ''as Jean Valjean'']]

===Differences in the musical===
{{Redirect|24,601|other uses|24601 (disambiguation)}}
{{See also|Les Misérables (musical)#Synopsis|l1=Synopsis of the musical}}

* Javert frequently refers to Jean Valjean as "Prisoner 24601", which never happens in the book. The number appears only twice in the novel, and is never spoken by Javert. It is only the first prison code of Valjean in the novel, but his only code in the musical. It was chosen by Victor Hugo when he believed that he was conceived on 24 June 1801 (that is, '''24-6-01''').<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Novel of the Century : The extraordinary adventure of Les Miserables|last=Bellos|first=David|publisher=Particular Books|year=2017|isbn=978-1-846-14470-7|pages=162}}</ref>
* Valjean's assumed name, Monsieur Madeleine, is used in the original French language [[Les Misérables (musical)|concept album]], but not in the later English version of the musical, where he is only called ''Monsieur le maire'' (Mr. Mayor). In the 2012 film adaptation of the musical, the factory foreman breaks up the fight between Fantine and the factory workers, announcing "Monsieur Madeleine's here!". The assumed name can also be seen on the door of his office.
* In the novel, Valjean is arrested for the second time after confessing to being a parole-breaker in court. Javert later chases him for escaping from prison. In the musical, Valjean neither gets arrested again nor escapes from prison.
* Valjean and Cosette do not live in Gorbeau House and take refuge from Javert in a convent in the [[Les Misérables (musical)|musical version]], but the 2012 movie depicts Valjean inadvertently entering the convent with Cosette while escaping Javert, where he then encounters Fauchelevent. The Gorbeau House episode with the Thenardiers is also omitted in the musical and film adaptation. Instead, Thenardier lures Valjean into a trap on the streets with his gang and later attempts to rob him in his house, which is located on Rue Plumet.
* In Act 2, ''The First Attack'', Valjean shoots a sniper who is attempting to kill Enjolras. It is unclear in the musical (due to the sniper being off stage) whether Valjean actually shoots the sniper or if he shoots the sniper's helmet to prevent him from killing Enjolras. In the novel, he shoots only at soldiers' helmets while at the barricade and purposely does not kill anyone.
* Valjean reveals his past to Marius before Marius and Cosette's wedding, and he also does not attend it. In the book, he does attend the wedding and confesses to Marius afterwards.

Given the high range of the role, particularly in parts of [[Bring Him Home (Les Misérables)|Bring Him Home]], Valjean is most often played by a [[tenor]].