The novel of the century
Subtitle: the extraordinary adventure of Les Misérables
By: David Bellos
Edition: First American edition.
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Published: 2017
Language: eng
Number of pages: 307
ISBN-13: 9780374223236
Subjects: French literature; History and criticism
Description: "The definitive biography of the world's most popular novel. Putting a century of scholarship on one of the world's most enduring popular novels into accessible, narrative form, this new approach to a classic of world literature is written for a wide general readership. Packed full of information about the book's origins and later career on stage and screen, The Novel of the Century brings to life the extraordinary story of how Victor Hugo managed to write his novel of the downtrodden despite a revolution, a coup d'état, and political exile; how he pulled off the deal of the century to get it published; and how he set it on course to become the novel that epitomizes the grand sweep of history in the nineteenth century. This biography of a masterpiece also shows how and why the moral and social messages of Les Misérables are full of meaning for our time. "--
Notes: "Originally published in 2017 by Particular Books, an imprint of Penguin Books, Great Britain"--Title-page verso.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 271-277) and index.
Table of contents: title: On reading Les Misérables; title: The journey of Les Misérables; title: Crimes and punishments. Victor Hugo opens his eyes ; Fantine ; The first draft ; Interlude : Invisible history; title: Treasure islands. The money plot ; Hauteville house ; The beliefs of Victor Hugo ; Hugo gets back to work ; Interlude : Inventing the names; title: Rooms with a view. Victory at Waterloo ; The contract of the century ; The five parts of Les Misérables ; Interlude : The mind of Jean Valjean; title: War, peace, and progress. The start of it all ; The Paris of Les Misérables ; The politics of Les Misérables ; The stumbling block ; Interlude : High style, low style, Latin, and slang; title: Great expectations. Publication day : 4 April 1862 ; A story without end ; The meaning of Les Misérables; title: Journey's end; title: France in the nineteenth century : a time line.