Social Network Analysis: Understanding a Novel!
Les Miserables Insights
Social network analysis tools like NodeXL can help us understand and provide additional insights into the network of characters in various novels. In this analysis, the character relationships in the classic epic novel Les Miserables are explored.
Looking at the graph, it can be seen that there are 77 distinct vertices and 254 edges. This means that there are 77 different characters in Les Miserables and that there are 254 connections between those 77 characters. Though some of the characters may be clustered, there is only one connected component. So the reader knows that any character can follow an acquaintance path to any other character in the novel. 
Analyzing the graph shows that the longest path (or geodesic distance) between any two characters is 5. This means that from any one character the maximum that any other character would be away from that character would be through 5 other characters. With the average geodesic distance being 2.6, it can be seen that, in general, each distinct character is generally 2 to 3 connections away from any other character. Further, when the graph density metrics are examined, it can be determined that the graph is relatively sparse. This means that only 8% of the relationships that could exist among the 77 characters actually do exist. If the graph had a density metric of 1 (meaning that every relationship that could exist between the characters did exist), there would have been 2,926 distinct edges or relationships among the characters.
Upon examining the individual metrics associated with particular characters, much can be deduced from the data without ever 'cracking open' the novel! Valjean, a character in the novel, has the highest degree centrality or is the most popular character. He is acquainted with 36 of the 77 characters. In social networks, however, having the highest degree centrality does not necessarily mean that the person is more important than others. Oftentimes, the person with the highest betweeness centrality score can hold significant influence because they are said to bridge the gaps between other individuals. 
In Les Miserables, Valjean also has the highest betweeness centrality, but Myriel (a character in the novel who is only connected to 10 others) has the second highest. So although he is not directly acquainted with many characters, he is very often on the shortest path between unacquainted characters.
One metric used to analyze social networks where Valjean doesn't surpass everyone else is his Eigenvector centrality score. Gavroche is the character who has the most influential connections in the novel, even if he does not have the most connections. Valjean also has a comparatively low clustering coefficient, meaning that many of his acquaintances don't know one another. Several lesser characters also have very high clustering coefficients, so their networks are comparatively smaller and denser than Valjean's.
Using social network analysis tools provides different ways to help us understand and gain additional insights into the network of characters in novels. It can be a unique skill for librarians!
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Interesting Links:
Who is Amy Elisabeth Fuller?
Analyzing Social Media Networks with NodeXL: Insights from a Connected World
What is Social Network Analysis?