Literary Pursuits - Les Miserables

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Sunday Feature: Literary Pursuits: Les Miserables

Les Miserables

Literary Pursuits

BBC Radio 3 - Sunday Feature, Literary Pursuits, Les Miserables

The story behind the writing of Victor Hugo's book is one of adultery, intrigue and exile.

The story behind the writing of Victor Hugo's novel is one of adultery, revolution and escape. Hugo finished the novel in exile on Guernsey and it took 17 years to complete.

The story behind the writing of Victor Hugo's classic novel is one of adultery, revolution, political intrigue and exile. It was begun in Paris, when Hugo was part of the political and literary establishment, but the revolution of 1848 led to Hugo falling foul of the authorities and he had to flee for his life in disguise. He was reunited with his precious manuscript days later when it was brought to him in Brussels by his long-time mistress Juilette Drouet. Eventually ending up in Guernsey, it was twelve years later that Hugo finally took his manuscript out and finished it. But the events of the intervening years caused Hugo to make huge additions to the manuscript, transforming it from a novel into a masterpiece.

Sunday Feature: Literary Pursuits

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Sarah Dillon on the stories behind the stories of how great novels were written.

Sarah Dillon explores the stories behind the stories of how great works of literature were written.

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