Assignments / Research And Writing Projects

• What was happening in the United States and England in 1815? In 1832?
• Trace the history of the French government from the French revolution until the student insurrection in 1832 described in Les Misérables.
• Research the process by which books were prepared by authors (without typewriters), publishers, and printers in Victor Hugo's time. Research the process used by authors, publishers, and printers today.
• Research the state of literacy in France in 1862, when Les Misérables was published. How much of the population read books? What kinds of people do you think bought Les Misérables when it was published? What current writer in America would you compare to Victor Hugo in his time? What recent book would you compare to Les Misérables?
• Research the life of Victor Hugo. He has been called the first literary media superstar. Why?