Happy Birthday Victor Hugo!

Posted by Tel Asiado Feb 26, 2008

Victor Hugo (1802-1885), French novelist, poet, essayist and playwright, is the most important of the French Romantic School of writers. He was also a statesman, a human rights campaigner, and visual artist.

Born: February 26, 1802

Died: May 22, 1885

Victor Hugo is famous for two books: Notre-Dame de Paris (The Hunchback of Notre Dame) and Les Misérables. He is also identified as the greatest poet of France. Among the many volumes of his poetry are included two of his most acclaimed: Les Contemplations and La Légende des siècles.

Later in his life, Hugo became involved in politics supporting the republican form of government. Following the overthrow of the Second French Republic by Napoleon III, Hugo went into exile on the Channel Islands, where he wrote some of his greatest works.

He returned to France after Napoleon III fell from power in 1870. He had a state funeral when he died, with millions of people in attendance.