The greatest work of one of France's greatest writers, Victor Hugo's Les Misérables seemed stylistically and even politically out of date when it was published in 1862. The novel's length, multiple narratives, and encyclopaedic digressiveness make it a pleasure to read but a challenge to teach. This volume is designed to address the needs of instructors in a variety of courses.
Offers pedagogical techniques for teaching Victor Hugo's Les Misérables in college classrooms, including consideration of the literary market, American pop culture, childhood, the literature of Paris, utopianism, the French Revolution, adaptations, and misery. Includes maps, information on reference works, and online resources. Gives syllabus suggestions for undergraduate and graduate courses.