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Realism in Les Misérables

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2020

Olin H. Moore*
Affiliation:
Ohio State University

Extract

It is my purpose to note a few indications of a trend toward photographic realism in the successive stages of the composition of les Misérables. While numerous studies of Victor Hugo's documentation have appeared, I believe that this is the first attempt to point out the changing character of that documentation, and to chart roughly a drift towards reportage. I shall rely mainly upon evidence from unpublished correspondence filed away with the manuscript of the novel, material neglected apparently even by the late Gustave Simon, who had access to Victor Hugo's workshop. The discussion will be limited to the following topics: (A) No. 7 Rue de l'Homme-Armé; (B) la maison Gorbeau; (C) the second residence of M. Gillenormand; (D) le restaurant Rousseau; (E) le Petit-Picpus; (F) Javert; (G) Thénardier.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
PMLA , Volume 61 , Issue 1 , March 1946 , pp. 211 - 228
Copyright
Copyright © Modern Language Association of America, 1946

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