Les Misérables - Victor Hugo

Published in 1862, Les Misérables is considered a classic of world literature. A sprawling epic that focuses on the social outcasts of early 19th century France, it is both an homage to the French culture and a compendium of timeless observations of human nature.

Les Misérables was a highly anticipated novel; when the first chapters of the book (now composing the Fantine section) were published as a serial, they sold out almost immediately. A humorous (and perhaps apocryphal) exchange between Hugo and his publisher perhaps best captures the explosive success of the book.

Hugo was on vacation during the publication of the novel, and he sent a very short telegram to his publisher inquiring about the commercial success of the manuscript. Hugo's letter consisted only of the symbol "?". To which his publisher replied "!", indicating its success. This tale originally appeared in an 1892 manuscript entitled Handy-Book of Literary Curiosities and may not be historically accurate, but it is a testament to the instant popularity of the novel in France.