Description
Victor Hugo, born on February 26, 1802, in Besançon, France, is celebrated as one of the greatest and best-known French writers. Throughout his life, Hugo was a passionate advocate for social issues, and his works touch deeply on themes of justice, human rights, and political and social ideology. Hugo's early life was marked by the political upheaval of the Napoleonic wars and the restoration of the monarchy. He initially supported the Bourbon monarchy but later became a fervent supporter of republicanism. His literature reflects his political evolution and his fervent advocacy for social causes such as the abolition of the death penalty. His career as a writer encompasses an expansive range of poetry, plays, and novels that are pivotal in the French Romantic movement. In his early career, Hugo gained fame as a poet but achieved widespread acclaim with his plays. "Hernani," staged in 1830, ignited the "Battle of Hernani," a significant event that marked the victory of the Romantic movement in French drama. Hugo's novels brought him international fame, particularly "Les Misérables" (1862) and "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame" (1831). "Les Misérables," a sprawling epic dealing with the social and moral issues of his time, particularly the plight of the poor and downtrodden, is often considered his greatest work. "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame," which tells the story of the deformed bell ringer Quasimodo and his tragic love for the dancer Esmeralda, is equally renowned for its vivid characterization and critique of the societal norms of Hugo's time. Living in exile for nearly two decades due to his political beliefs, Hugo wrote some of his best work during this period, including "Les Misérables." After returning to France, he was hailed as a national hero. He continued to write until his death, leaving behind a body of work that profoundly influenced the literary landscape of the 19th century. Victor Hugo died on May 22, 1885, in Paris, and his death was mourned as a great loss to French literature. His works continue to be celebrated for their profound emotional depth, stylistic innovation, and powerful commentary on human rights and justice. Through his novels, plays, and poems, Hugo remains an enduring symbol of the struggle for social and political justice and one of the most powerful voices in the history of French literature.