Figuring Transcendence in Les Misérables

Figuring Transcendence in Les Misérables, Volume 1, is a scholarly examination of Victor Hugo's literary masterpiece. Author Kathryn M. Grossman analyzes the novel through the lens of the romantic sublime, connecting the narrative to Hugo's earlier fiction and his poetry from the Second Empire. This academic study focuses on the intersections of French Romanticism and the philosophical concept of transcendence in literature.

Grossman utilizes the theories of Paul Ricoeur and Thomas Weiskel to explore how the structural motifs of the novel align with specific spiritual, ethical, and political concerns. By situating the work within the broader context of 19th century France, Figuring Transcendence in Les Misérables provides an authoritative perspective on the aesthetic goals of Victor Hugo. This volume serves as a critical resource for those studying the sublime and the evolution of Romanticism.