Summary
Highlights
Victor Hugo, finding solace in books from a difficult reality, began writing his own stories at a young age. By 14, he declared his ambition to be a great writer. The death of his mother at 19 led him to seek comfort with his childhood friend Adèle Foucher, whom he married in 1822 and had five children with.
At 25, Hugo's play 'Cromwell' with its groundbreaking preface, challenged classical literary rules and made him a leader of the Romantic movement. This led to a famous clash between classicists and romantics during the premiere of his play 'Hernani'. His novel 'Notre Dame de Paris', published in 1831, was a massive success.
While his literary career flourished, Hugo's marriage faced difficulties, leading to his passionate affair with actress Juliette Drouet. He used his writing to critique society, most notably against the death penalty, evident in 'The Last Day of a Condemned Man' and 'Claude Gueux', eventually leading him to speak against it in the National Assembly.
Despite widespread admiration and election to the French Academy, Hugo suffered a profound loss with the death of his beloved daughter Léopoldine. His strong criticism of Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte's coup d'état in 1851 led to his exile in England, where he continued to write his most famous works, including 'Les Misérables'.
After 19 years, Hugo returned to France a hero, continuing his political activism. At 80, the street where he lived was renamed Avenue Victor Hugo. He passed away at 83, just two years after Juliette, leaving behind a monumental body of work that influenced society and earned him a national funeral and burial in the Pantheon.