Victor Hugo was a towering figure of the nineteenth-century Romantic movement in France. A prolific writer, he wore many hats—novelist, poet, political activist, and even painter. His life was marked by a passionate commitment to human rights, social justice, and a profound critique of poverty as a fundamental societal ill.

Early Life and Influences

Born in 1802 in Besançon, France, Hugo's upbringing was steeped in the tumultuous era of Napoleon Bonaparte's reign. His father served as a general in the Napoleonic army, holding republican ideals, while his mother, a middle-class woman, leaned towards royalist sentiments. This dynamic household and the broader socio-political climate shaped his worldview significantly. Young Hugo spent much of his early years in Paris under his mother's care but also traveled extensively due to his father's military career, witnessing firsthand the Napoleonic campaigns. After completing his education in Paris, Hugo married his childhood sweetheart, Adele Foucher, in 1822.

Literary Beginnings and Political Ideals

1822 also marked the publication of Hugo's first poetry collection, which would be the start of a diverse and illustrious literary journey encompassing dramas and novels. He moved within the circles of influential intellectuals and artists of his time. While his political views evolved with the changing French governments, his dedication to human rights remained unwavering. In a candid letter to a friend, Hugo revealed his motivations for writing Les Misérables: "If the radical is the ideal, yes, I am a radical.… A society which admits poverty, a religion which admits hell, a humanity which sanctions war, seem to me an inferior society, an inferior religion and humanity, and it is towards the higher society, the higher humanity and religion that I turn: society without a king, humanity without frontiers, religion without a book.… I condemn slavery, I banish poverty, I teach ignorance, I treat disease, I lighten the night, and I hate hatred. That is what I am, and that is why I have written Les Misérables."

Political Engagement and Exile

The decades of the 1840s to the 1860s were a whirlwind of activity for Hugo. In 1841, he was inducted into the Académie Française, and by 1845, he had joined the peerage in acknowledgment of his literary genius. The late 1840s marked a shift towards serious political engagement. In the Chamber of Peers, he became a vocal critic of the legal system and the plight of the impoverished, issues that echoed in Les Misérables. Growing disillusioned with monarchism, Hugo embraced republicanism, actively participating in the 1848 revolution. These tumultuous experiences provided him with a rich, real-world backdrop for the barricade scenes in his novel. When Louis Napoleon seized power through a coup in 1851, Hugo's vocal opposition led to his exile—first to Belgium, and subsequently to the Isle of Guernsey in the English Channel. It was during this period of enforced solitude that he penned most of Les Misérables.

The Impact of Les Misérables

Les Misérables debuted in 1862, capturing the imagination of readers across Europe despite receiving mixed critical reviews. The novel's poignant exploration of the struggles faced by the downtrodden resonated with audiences not only in France but worldwide, solidifying Hugo's reputation as a literary titan. Its themes of social justice and empathy for the marginalized struck a chord that would resonate through the ages.

Later Life and Legacy

After nearly two decades of exile, Hugo returned to France in 1870 to a hero's welcome. He continued to write prolifically, although he chose to step back from the political arena. Upon his passing in 1885, Victor Hugo was honored by lying in state beneath the Arc de Triomphe, a testament to his enduring impact on French culture. He was laid to rest in the Pantheon in Paris, forever enshrined in the heart of the city he dearly loved.