`` Claude Gueux '' , a documentary short story about a real-life murderer who had been executed in France , appeared in 1834 , and was later considered by Hugo himself to be a precursor to his great work on social injustice , `` Les Misérables '' .
It is a documentary short story about a real-life murderer who had been executed in France . Hugo himself considered it to be a precursor to his great work on social injustice , `` Les Misérables '' .