Victor Hugo

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Victor Hugo is one of the most famous writers, poets and dramatists of France. He lived in the nineteenth century. Victor Hugo was born in 1802. His father was a general in Napoleon's army, so the family travelled all around Europe during Victor's childhood.

Victor Hugo as a young man.

Victor was a very clever boy. He was writing and publishing books of poetry when he was only seven years old. At the age of 17, he started a magazine which reviewed books and poetry. He entered the army and was awarded the Legion of Honneur, France's highest military award. Victor Hugo beame interested in politics. He was particularly interested in trying to make life better and more equal for the poor.

He thought that a Republic would help to pass laws that would be fairer for poor people, so he supported a Revolution in 1848 against the Emperor. Hugo fought in the streets of Paris with students, Parisians and poor people to try to bring a Republic to France. However, the Emperor kept power. Because of this, Hugo was tried for treason and sent into exile in 1851. He had to stay away from France for nearly twenty years.

Hugo in later life.

Two of Hugo's most famous novels are "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" and "Les Misérables". "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" tells the story of Quasimodo the bell ringer of Notre Dame de Paris who fell in love with the beautiful gipsy princess, called Esmeralda. This book has been filmed and turned into a cartoon.

Notre Dame de Paris, the setting for "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." You can see the two square towers at the front of the cathedral. The bell is in the one in full view.

LES MISÉRABLES (1862), is Hugo's most popular work. It has been filmed many times and is a very successful musical on the stage. Hugo thought of the idea for the story one day when he saw a poor woman begging bread and money from a rich man in an expensive coach.

The story is about a convict called Jean Valjean who is sentenced to 19 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread. When he is released, he plans to rob a kindly bishop. The bishop saves Jean from the police by saying that he gave Jean the silver which he had really stolen. In return, Jean turns his life to helping others, though all the time he is pursued by the police inspector Javert. With his adopted daughter, Cossette, Jean goes to Paris and helps the Parisians in their revolution against a bad ruler. This was what Hugo had done in real life.

After defeat in a war against Germany, France became a republic and Victor Hugo was able to return at last. He died in Paris in 1885 and was given a national funeral. It was attended by two million people.

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