Victor Hugo

Been a while since I reported on by biographical perigrinations, and it took some time to read this lengthy biography, but here is my report on Victor Hugo as I continue my author series.  The next one will not be an author, not sure who it will be.  This bio was written by Graham Robb.  It is one of the most fascinating biography I have read, because of the attitude the author takes to his subject.  In an at times sarcastic and at times ironic look, but ultimately very balanced, Hugo is revealed as what I would consider to be a typical human, certainly a typical prominent human.  The author debunks myths Hugo tried to perpetrate about himself as well as criticisms and hero-worship from others.

Hugo is probably best known for Les Miserables, largely because that work was in recent decades both a play and a movie.  But he was an incredibly prolific author, using all forms.  He wrote thousands of poems.  He was best known early in his career for plays.  And his novels remain literary classics.  He constantly jotted notes, wrote letters and articles, and kept a very detailed diary.  Born shortly after the French revolution, Hugo lived a long life through a period of immense political turmoil in France, cycling between a republic, a monarchy and a civilian dictatorship.  He endured a 17 year exile from France due to his political activities.

His personal life was rather interesting as well.  To say he was fond of sex and relationships with as many women as possible might be an understatement.  Somehow, his wife and a longtime mistress stuck with him despite his constant affairs and just one-off encounters with other women.  He appears to have never met a woman he was not interested in having sex with, including wives of friends, and their teenaged daughters.  And while he often tried to hide these activities, he also seemed to feel entitled to them, in common with many other famous people who believe themselves above typical ethics or consideration of feelings of family and friends.

Hugo’s political views vacillated, generally supporting the mass of the people, but also being concerned about violence perpetrated by any government or political movement, although he at times advocated some more forceful resistance.  He was an intense patriot, and clearly believed France and the French language were the greatest in the world, the salvation of mankind and an example to the rest of the world.  Events didn’t quite support that view.  While I can’t read French, the author believes that Hugo was an exemplary user of the French language, creating beauty from the conjunction of ordinary words.  Certainly his themes, characters and plots were memorable.

For most of his life, to most Frenchmen, Hugo was a national hero and a great source of pride and his death brought a massive celebration of his legacy.  This biography seems to be an accurate picture of the man, and is well worth the read to understand both Hugo and French history at the time of his life.