Les Misérables at the State Library of Victoria
The iconic story Les Misérables is a global literary phenomenon that has inspired generations since its publication in 1862. Victor Hugo: Les Misérables – From Page to Stage will be on show at the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne 18 July to 9 November.
The exhibition follows the inception of this classic French novel, the inspirations for its famous author and to its place as a timeless icon today. On display will be a collection of rare material from around the world, featuring original writing and artwork from author Victor Hugo.
France’s national treasure, the original 1862 manuscript of Les Misérables has been secured, removed from the vaults of the Bibliothèque nationale de France for its first showing outside of Europe.
CEO and State Librarian, Sue Roberts highlighted the show as a must-see, with the world-first exhibition exuding the universal appeal of Les Misérables.
“Les Misérables is quite simply one of the greatest stories of all time. Since its publication in 1862 it has sold countless copies, been translated into 20 languages, adapted for cinema at least 50 times, and has inspired 3 major musical theatre productions,” Ms Roberts said.
With remarkable material drawn from the Maison de Victor Hugo in Paris, the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, the Musee Rodin and the Cameron Macintosh archives, it is an in-depth encounter for all lovers of Les Misérables.
Ms Roberts commented on the interactive and unique experience, “We will have a gallery that explores the life of Victor Hugo, the Paris of his day and the writing of his masterpiece and its many adaptations. There will also be a gallery dedicated to the musical with unique behind the scenes insights into its creation, music, performances, sets and costumes.”
The grand exhibition is all inclusive with events on throughout its display, including an education program and free public talks that explore the themes of French history, politics, language and culture that underlie Les Misérables.
Victor Hugo: Les Misérables – From Page to Stage
The State Library of Victoria
18 July – 9 November
Image: Andreane Neofitou, Original costume design for Enroljas, Les Misérables, 1985.
Image courtesy of the artist and the State Library of Victoria
One Trackback
[…] Les Misérables sets a grand stage […]
No artist creates in isolation. Every painting carries traces of the conversations, places and histories that shaped it, preserving within its surface a particular moment...
The weekend markets at Fairfield Showground have been one of Western Sydney’s great institutions for more than fifty years. Fresh fruit and vegetables, children’s clothes,...
In recent times, Yorgos Lanthimos has shifted toward photography, noting in a Guardian interview, 2026, that he needs respite, saying, “it might be a couple...
In Australia, political cartoons were altered by several events during the 1960s: the arrival of Les Tanner’s (1927‒2001) instinctual wit at The Bulletin, Bruce Petty’s...
Recognition of the importance of early bark paintings and their link to the world’s oldest continuing culture, is what makes them both highly sought and...
I had come to see my daughter sing in Deborah Kelly’s Creation Choir and was fortunate enough to make it inside the gallery for the...
Cuban-born, Brisbane-based artist Jorge Mariño Brito’s practice unfolds across two material registers that are best understood not as parallel tracks but as entwined explorations. Both...
The first work you encounter in Edge City is a gate, Settlement #8, 2025. Not one to pass through (not anymore), but a threshold nonetheless....
Designed to impress, the number and size of paintings—twenty-nine at nine square metres each and one even bigger—are a spectacle, lifting the exhibition from an...