Did Victor Hugo Query Les Misérables Sales With Just a '?'

His publisher, Lacroix, understood the author's curiosity instantly and wired back with equally succinct brevity: "!". This famous exchange in 1862, while Hugo was in exile on Guernsey, perfectly conveyed the monumental success of the novel, which had rapidly sold out its first print run. This charming anecdote illustrates the unique and often playful communication between a world-renowned author and his publishing house in an era before modern digital updates.