ABOUT VICTOR HUGO

Victor was an excellent student who During the next 15 years he excelled in mathematics, physics, produced six plays, four volumes philosophy, French literature, Latin, of verse, and the romantic historical and Greek. He won fi rst place in a novel The Hunchback of Notre national poetry contest when he was 17. Dame, establishing his reputation as As a teenager, he fell in love with the greatest writer in France. a neighbour’s daughter, Adele Foucher. However, his mother In 1831, Adele Hugo became discouraged the romance, believing romantically involved with a well that her son should marry into a known critic and good friend of fi ner family. When his mother died Victor’s named Sainte-Beuve. Victor in 1821, Victor refused to accept became involved with the actress fi nancial help from his father. He Juliette Drouet, who became his lived in abject poverty for a year, but mistress in 1833. Supported by a then won a pension of 1,000 francs small pension from Hugo, Drouet a year from Louis XVIII for his fi rst became his unpaid secretary and volume of verse. Barely out of his travelling companion for the next teens, Hugo became a hero to the fi fty years. common people as well as a favourite of heads of state. Throughout his After losing one of his daughters lifetime, he played a major role in in a drowning accident and VICTOR HUGO’S enormously France’s political evolution from experiencing the failure of his successful career covered most of dictatorship to democracy. play Les Burgraves in 1843, Hugo the nineteenth century and spanned decided to focus on the growing both the Romantic and Realistic He lived in abject poverty social problems in France. He movements. A great poet, novelist, was joined in his increasing playwright, essayist, pamphleteer, for a year, but then won interest in politics by a number of diarist, politician and moralist, Hugo a pension of 1,000 francs a other Romantic writers, marking was a man of immense passion and year from Louis XVIII. the beginning of the Realistic- endless contradictions. Naturalistic era in French literature. In 1822, he married Adele Foucher, Hugo was born on February 26, who became the mother of his 1802. His father, General Joseph children, Leopold-Victor, Charles- Leopold Hugo, was the son of a Victor, Francois-Victor, Adele, and carpenter who rose through the Leopoldine. ranks of Napoleon’s citizen army. However, Victor’s mother decided In 1830, Victor became one of the not to subject her three sons to the leaders of a group of Romantic diffi culties of army life, and settled rebels who were trying to loosen in Paris to raise them. Madame the hold of classical literature in Hugo became the mistress of her France. His play Hernani, whose husband’s commanding offi cer, premiere was interrupted by fi st- General Lahorie, who was a father fi ghts between Hugo’s admirers and fi gure to Hugo and his brothers until detractors, took a large step towards the General’s execution in 1812. a more realistic theatre and made him a rich man.

Background | 1 ABOUT VICTOR HUGO

Hugo was a moderate republican Napoleon, returned to his poetry and portions of his royalties to purchase who was made a Peer of France in published several novels including weapons. He lost two sons, one in 1845. After the Revolution of 1848 Les Misérables, which he had begun 1871 and one in 1873. Although he and the founding of the Second years earlier. was elected to the Senate in 1876, Republic, he was elected a deputy poor health caused him to return to to the Constitutional Assembly. Over 3 million spectators Guernsey. Mme. Hugo died in 1868 Three years later, when Louis and Mme. Drouet in 1882. Napoleon abolished the Republic follwed his cortege to the and reestablished the Empire, Hugo Pantheon. Hugo died in 1885 at the age of risked execution trying to rally the eighty-three. Although he left workers of Paris against the new When Les Misérables was published instructions that his funeral be Emperor. However, his efforts failed, in Brussels in 1862, it was an simple, over 3 million spectators and he had to escape to Brussels. immediate popular success in spite followed his cortege to the Pantheon, of negative reaction by critics, who where he was buried amid France’s As a result, Hugo spent the next considered it overly sentimental, and great men. Hugo’s death came decade in exile with his family the government, who banned it. at the end of a century of war, and Mme. Drouet on the islands of civil confl ict, brutally repressed Jersey and Guernsey. During these After the Franco-Prussian War insurrections such as the student years, he wrote satires about Louis and the fall of the Empire in 1870, rebellion in Les Misérables, and Hugo made a triumphant return to social injustice. Because of his belief Paris. He remained there through in the triumph of good over evil and the siege of the city and contributed his pleading for tolerance and non- violence, Victor Hugo was the herald of the new democratic spirit.

Background | 2 ABOUT THE NOVEL

LES MISÉRABLES is a melodramatic him. Inside there was a dazzlingly Foreshadowing the success story of novel written from the premise beautiful woman dressed in velvet, the musical, over one hundred years that any man can rise above his playing with a child hidden under later, the novel Les Misérables was, circumstances to reach perfection. ribbons, embroidery and furs. The initially, a popular, rather than a The plot of the novel is suspenseful impoverished man stared at the critical, triumph. “All the reviews,” from start to fi nish; it follows both woman in the carriage, but she was wrote Hugo, “are reactionary and Jean Valjean’s and society’s struggles totally unaware of him. Hugo wrote more or less hostile.” with good and evil. that he saw this man as, “the spectre of misery, the ghostly forewarning Like the musical, critical opinion Hugo began to think about Les in full light of day, in the sunshine, had absolutely no effect on Misérables as early as 1829. He of the revolution still plunged public interest in Les Misérables. observed the specifi c incident in the shadows of darkness, but Bookshop owners and other vendors that triggers the novel’s action on emerging from them. The moment literally battled to buy copies of the the streets of Paris in 1845. On he become aware of her existence, book for their customers. Long lines a sunny but cold day, he saw an while she remained unaware of his, and traffi c jams were observed all impoverished man being arrested a catastrophe was inevitable.” over the city as people fought to buy for stealing a loaf of bread. As one of the 48,000 copies put on sale the man stood on the street, an When Les Misérables the fi rst day. ornate carriage pulled up beside was published in 1862, it This phenomenon was echoed in generated more excitement 1985, when the musical version of than any book in the Hugo’s novel opened in London history of publishing. to mostly poor reviews. When Cameron Mackintosh, discouraged As the years passed, Les Misérables by the adverse critical response, evolved as Hugo’s own life called the box offi ce, he was greeted experiences shaped his philosophy. by a happily busy ticket salesman. He incorporated personal memories of all kinds in the novel, often mixing everyday trivial fact with fi ction to give the story a sense of journalistic truth. By the time it was published in 1862, it had become an epic novel, expressed in rich prose within a strong framework of history, philosophy, and political theory. “This is a leviathan I am about to ship out to sea,” he said before publishing.

When Les Misérables was published in 1862, it generated more excitement than any book in the history of publishing. It was widely advertised in Paris with giant sketched portraits of Cosette, Fantine, Marius and Jean Valjean.

Background | 3 ABOUT THE NOVEL

“I’m amazed you managed to get The book was a sensation for social change, the novel through,” Mackintosh was told, Les Misérables acquired many “the phones haven’t stopped in America, whose own enemies. Conservatives feared the ringing.” As with the novel, the civil unrest at the time social impact of the novel, and the story of Les Misérables had touched seemed to many to mirror Vatican banned it for several years. a common chord, and its great the events and feelings of A theatrical version, written by success was built on word of mouth. Hugo’s son Charles, was banned the novel. in France, opening instead in Brussels. The French newspaper Hugo wrote about his book, “I don’t The initial French language success The Constitutionnel wrote that know if it will be read by everyone, was copied all over the world as if the ideas of the novel were but it is meant for everyone. It soon as the book became available acknowledged, “no part of the social addresses England as well as Spain, in translation. The book was a order would remain standing.” Italy as well as France, Germany as sensation in America, whose own well as Ireland, the republics that civil unrest at the time seemed Nonetheless, Les Misérables has harbour slaves as well as empires to many to mirror the events and been translated into nearly every that have serfs. Social problems feelings of the novel. Indeed, language and, during the past go beyond frontiers...” To further Confederate soldiers read the novel century, has become one of the best- his goal of presenting the ideas voraciously, calling themselves selling books in history. of Les Misérables to as wide an “Lee’s Miserables.” audience as possible, Hugo urged As with any work of art pleading his publishers to bring out cheaper editions of the book in small print to make it available to ordinary people.

Background | 4 VICTOR HUGO CHRONOLOGY

1772 1799 - 1804 1811 Birth of Sophie-Francoise The ‘Consulat.’ Bonaparte takes Sophie Hugo makes one last attempt Trébuchet, Victor Hugo’s mother. command. to resume marital relations with Léopold, and joins him, with her 1773 1802 family, in Spain. Léopold hears of Birth of Léopold-Sigisbert Hugo, Birth of Victor-Marie Hugo. his wife’s affair with Lahorie and Victor Hugo’s father. 1803 sues her for divorce. Sophie and 1789 Léopold-Sigisbert Hugo posted to her children return to Paris a few French Revolution begins. Elba in disgrace, remains there with months later. his three small sons (Eugene, the 1812 1798 youngest, is born in 1803) while First French Republic proclaimed. Lahorie is executed for plotting Sophie Hugo remains in Paris, and Napoleon’s downfall. 1792 - 95 is befriended by General Victor The republican ‘Convention,’ ending Lahorie, her husband’s former 1814 in Robespierre’s terror. commanding offi cer. Léopold and Back in France, General Léopold Sophie drift apart; he takes up with Hugo distinguishes himself at the 1793 Catherine Thomas (a nurse), and siege of Thionville. Sophie Hugo Louis XVI executed. The ‘Chouans’ begins living with her. Sophie Hugo sues him for maintenance. (royalist Breton insurgents) begin fi nally rejoins her husband in Elba their full-scale civil war against briefl y, but they quarrel constantly. 1815 the republican French government. France becomes a monarchy once Léopold-Sigisbert Hugo, an offi cer 1804 - 1815 more under Louis XVIII. General in the republican army, is posted to French Empire; rise and fall of the Léopold Hugo mistakenly hopes Britanny as part of the repressive Napoleonic Empire, ending with the that by rallying to Louis XVIII in peace-keeping force. battle of Waterloo. extremis he will be able to stay in the army. He is retired on half-pay. 1795 - 1799 1804 ‘Le Directoire’, the fi rst post- Napoleon crowns himself at Notre 1815 - 1824 revolution government. Dame; French Empire proclaimed. Reign of Louis XVIII. Sophie and her three children return 1796 to Paris, settling at 24 Rue de Chichy. 1820 Léopold-Sigisbert, on patrol, meets General Lahorie, now retired and Victor Hugo’s Ode to the Death Sophie-Francoise Trébuchet, a wanted by the police for plotting of the Duc de Berri attracts the Royalist, verifi es her identity papers, against Napoleon, lives at no.19. attention of the Court. Louis XVIII searches her parents’ farm, and falls sends him 500 francs. in love with her. 1807 Léopold Hugo promoted colonel 1821 1797 and posted to Naples, where he Death of Sophie Hugo. Léopold Marriage in Paris of Sophie Trébuchet makes a favourable impression on Hugo marries his mistress, Catherine and Léopold-Sigisbert Hugo. Napoleon’s younger brother Joseph. Thomas. 1808 1822 1798 Joseph Bonaparte is made King Victor Hugo marries childhood Birth of Abel Hugo, Victor Hugo’s of Spain by Napoleon. Léopold sweetheart Adéle Foucher. elder brother (who dies, insane, Hugo follows the French King to 1823 1855). Spain and gets a lucrative staff Birth of Victor Hugo’s fi rst son, appointment. Léopold Victor.

Background | 5 VICTOR HUGO CHRONOLOGY

1824 - 30 1843 1868 Reign of Charles X. Death of Léopoldine Hugo. Adéle Hugo dies. 1824 1845 1870 Birth of Victor Hugo’s fi rst daughter, Victor Hugo starts writing Les Franco-Prussian war ends with Léopoldine. Misérables. disastrous battle of Sedan. Napoleon III fl ees France and settles in 1825 1848 - 1851 England. October – Victor Hugo Victor Hugo awarded the Légion Reign of King Louis Philippe ends returns to Paris, is elected a member d’Honneur for services to literature. with uprising and Louis Napoleon of parliament by the Parisiens. becomes President of the Second 1826 French Republic 1871 Birth of Victor Hugo’s second son, Victor Hugo resigns from Charles Victor. 1851 Parliament; following the death of 1828 2 December: Louis Napoleon his son, Charles, he goes to Brussels dissolves Parliament, is proclaimed to settle the family inheritance. Death of General Léopold-Sigisbert President with full powers for ten Hugo. Birth of Victor Hugo’s third years, ratifi ed by a plebiscite. Victor 1871 son, Francois-Victor. Hugo leaves hastily for Brussels. April-May – Paris ‘Commune’ 1830 uprising, soon crushed, leads to 1852 appalling carnage and repression. Premiere of Victor Hugo’s play, Louis Napoleon proclaims himself Hernani, interrupted by fi st fi ghts Emperor as Napoleon III. Victor 1871 between admirers and detractors. Hugo settles fi rst in Jersey then in August – From Brussels, Hugo Birth of second daughter Adéle. Guernsey. protests against the Belgian 1830 - 1848 1852 - 1870 Government’s refusal to give fl eeing Reign of King Louis Philippe. ‘Communards’ status of political Emperor Napoleon III establishes exiles. His Brussels home is stoned 1831 cordial relations with Britain. Hugo and he is declared persona non grata Victor Hugo publishes Notre-Dame vows not to set foot on French soil in Belgium, moving to Luxembourg, de Paris. till his removal. returning briefl y to Paris, then to 1832 1853 Guernsey to write Quatre-Vingt- Hugo meets Juliette Drouet. Funeral Victor Hugo publishes poetry, Les Treize. of General Lamque – hero to Chaîtiments to great acclaim. 1875 workers and students – degenerates 1856 Victor Hugo settles permanently in into riots, and the barricades Publication of more poetry, Les Paris and is appointed Senator. described in Les Misérables. Contemplations. 1882 1836 1861 Death of Juliette Drouet. Applies for membership of Victor Hugo completes Les Academie Française; fails. 1885 Misérables. 23 May – Victor Hugo dies. 1839 1862 1885 Second Academie Française election Les Misérables published in Paris attempt again ends in failure. 1 June – State funeral attended by and Brussels. over three million people. 1841 Victor Hugo fi nally elected to the Academie Française.

Background | 6 ABOUT EMILE BAYARD

EMILE BAYARD was Victor With infi nite attention to detail, Hugo’s favourite illustrator, famous Emile Bayard worked for months in his own lifetime for his brilliant on huge paintings, of which the portraits of Fantine, Éponine, best known are “After the Battle Valjean and Javert, but best known of Waterloo” and “Sedan 1870”. today by people all over the world His real talent, however, lay in his for “his” Cosette, used originally on abilities as a brilliant portraitist. the sleeve of the French ‘Les Mis’ In the tradition of the time, he also record in 1980, and now famous as used his drawing skills to rework the Les Misérables logo. original sketches by explorers and travellers, sometimes even Bayard, a prolifi c lithographer for transforming pictures of exotic magazines and books (he illustrated places into lithographs. A close the works of Edmond About - then friend of Honorè Daumier and a fashionable novelist, almost as cartoonists such as Paul Gavarni, well-known as Hugo himself), was Henri Monnier, Alfred Grevin, one of the leaders of the nineteenth- Jean-Louis Forain and Emmanuel century academic painting school, Poiré (better known as Caran somewhat unjustly known as “le d’Ache), he wrote about their Cosette style pompier”. work about spotting fakes, and Emile Bayard identifying antiques. Quintessentially a wealthy Parisian “society painter” with pupils and his own atelier, Emile Bayard showed a remarkable understanding of Victor Hugo’s work as seen in his illustrations of the cast of characters in Les Misérables.

Background | 7 CHRONOLOGY

THE HISTORY that led to the novel 1824 - 30 1910 and the musical. The reign of Charles X. The fi rst American fi lm, Galley Slaves, is produced as a silent fi lm, 1845 1832 directed by James Stuart Blackton. Victor Hugo starts writing Les Death of General Lamarque, a hero Misérables. to workers and students. His funeral 1935 degenerates into riots, described by The fi rst American sound version is 1848 - 1851 Hugo in Les Misérables. produced by Richard Boleslawski. Reign of King Louis Philippe ends with uprising and Louis Napoleon 1848 - 51 1980 becomes President of the Second Regime of Louis Phillipe ends The original arena production of French Republic. with uprising and Louis Napoleon the Boublil-Schönberg musical, Les becomes president of the Second Misérables, is presented at the Palais 1792 Republic. He dissolves Parliament des Sports, Paris. First French Republic declared. and is given full powers for ten years. 1985 1792 - 95 Les Misérables opens at the The republican “Convention”, 1852 Barbican Theatre in London. ending in Robespierre’s “terror”. Louis Napoleon declares himself Emperor. Hugo urges the populace 1987 to rise against the monarch and fl ees Les Misérables opens at the 1793 the country to Belgium. Louis XVI executed. The Royal Broadway Theatre in New York. insurgents begin their full scale civil war against the republican French 1862 Government. Victor Hugo describes Victor Hugo publishes Les this confl ict in his novel 93. Misérables, written in exile.

1795 - 99 1870 “Le Directoire” becomes the fi rst Louis Napoleon is forced to abdicate post-revolution government. and is replaced by a democratically elected government. Hugo returns to 1799 - 1804 France in triumph. “The Consulate”; Napoleon Bonaparte takes command. 1885 Hugo dies. Two million mourners 1804 - 15 pay their respects at his massive French Empire; the rise and fall of funeral. Napoleon, ending with the battle of Waterloo. 1906 The fi rst silent fi lm of Les 1815 Misérables is directed in France by France becomes a monarchy again Albert Capellini. with Louis XVIII as King.

Background | 8