Of course it's relevant to how it's seen today. French culture nurtured the author, a French publisher published it, and France didn't ban it while other countries did. This is all evidence that the book was well-liked in France when it was published, and there's no reason to think that would change over time.
If anything, it's surprising that English-speaking countries like it so much.
If anything, it's surprising that English-speaking countries like it so much.