Typhaine Samoyault Explores Adaptations of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables

Typhaine Samoyault, a scholar and author, examines the extensive editorial history of Victor Hugo's 1862 novel Les Misérables in her essay Toutes sortes de Misérables. Published by Éditions du Seuil, the work analyzes how the lengthy social and historical classic has been repeatedly adapted, translated, and abridged since its release, including nearly fifty film and television versions and a musical. Samoyault argues that such reworkings, which began as early as 1884 with youth editions, have helped sustain the novel's global popularity, with characters like Cosette and Jean Valjean becoming cultural icons. She posits that continuous reinterpretation across languages and cultures, rather than mere literary quality, keeps classics alive and relevant.