Includes bibliographical references (pages 174-178) and index.

One of the most renowned figures in French literature, Victor Hugo (1802-1885) is also the most widely read French novelist in the English-speaking world, owing to the continuing popularity of his two most important novels, Notre-Dame de Paris (1831) and Les Miserables (1862). Despite this prestige, however, Hugo has often been unfairly maligned by some academic critics who have demeaned his accomplishments as both a poet and novelist by calling him a mere popularizer with a fertile imagination. These critics have argued that Hugo's greatness resides not in the production of refined and well-crafted works but in his energy, genius for self-promotion, patriotism, political courage, versatility in different genres, and massive output.

In this study of Hugo's achievement, Laurence M. Porter offers a corrective to these misconceptions, taking a fresh look at a man who has long been a veritable institution in French culture. Without neglecting Hugo's political career, Porter emphasizes the richness and subtlety of his creative work.

Also issued online.

SACFinal081324