Victor Hugo

From Citizendium, the Citizens' Compendium

Victor-Marie Hugo (1802-1885) was a French author, famous for works including The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and Les Misérables.

Childhood

Hugo was born in Besançon. He accompanied his father, who was a general in Napoleon's army, in the campaigns of Spain and Italy. He produced his first tragedy at 14.

Adulthood

Hugo was admitted at the Académie française and was created a peer in 1845. He fled to Brussel after the coup d'état. He then established himself in Jersey and then Guernsey. This is where he wrote Les Misérables and Les Travailleurs de la mer.

In 1870, Victor Hugo came back to France and engaged in politics again and became a senator.