Victor Hugo

Introduction

Victor Hugo

Don’t criticize Napoleon! That was the lesson learned by writer Victor Hugo when he declared Napoleon III a traitor of France. Hugo was exiled in 1851 and granted amnesty in 1859, but he declined and chose instead to continue living in exile until 1870 when Napoleon III was replaced by the Third Republic. Hugo was somewhat of a chameleon and often changed his political views and religion over the years. He was a prolific writer of plays, poetry, essays, and novels. He is most famous for his novels Les Miserables and Notre-Dame de Paris, or The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Hugo was also a strong political figure in France and was elected to the National Assembly and the Senate upon his return to his homeland.

Essential Facts

1. Hugo was very close with his mother and even waited until her death to marry his longtime sweetheart, Adele Foucher. Hugo’s mother disapproved of the match.
2. Hugo’s play Hernani (1830) started a riot between conservative and liberal factions in the audience.
3. The shortest correspondence in history is credited to Hugo and his editor upon the release of Les Miserables. Hugo was on vacation during the time the book was published and was curious as to its success. He telegrammed his editor “?” and was rewarded with the reply “!”
4. Although he never directly attacked the Catholic church, he was critical of its dogma.
5. More than two million people marched in Victor Hugo’s funeral procession through Paris.