Court saves Les Mis sequel novels

Hugo's book was made into a hugely successful stage production

Two modern-day sequels to Victor Hugo's classic Les Miserables have been allowed by a French appeals court.

In 2001, novelist Francois Ceresa published the follow-ups to the acclaimed 19th-Century classic.

But Hugo's family objected to the books - Cosette and the Time of Illusions and Marius or The Fugitive - arguing they were an insult to the original work.

The Paris High Court ruled they did not constitute a threat to the integrity of the original novel.

Hugo's heirs - including his great, great grandson Pierre Hugo - filed a suit in 2001 demanding 685,000 euros (