From Page to Protest: The Global Lives of Les Misérables

Taught in English, Prof Anne-Gaelle Saliot

Why has Les Misérables, a 19th-century novel set in post-revolutionary France, become a global bestseller and a cultural touchstone?  This course explores Hugo's story of justice punishment, redemption, and revolt alongside its many afterlives-in film, theater, graphic novels, and digital media. We'll examine the novel's engagement with the penal system, political power, and ethical transformation, while asking how its meaning shifts across time, geography, and medium. Students will gain tools for literacy and cultural analysis through close reading, historical inquiry, and creative work. No prior experience required, just curiosity and critical thinking.