Victor Hugo

Born in 1802, Victor Hugo's early life was shaped by his father's military career in Napoleon's army, leading to periods spent in Paris, Italy, and Spain. Educated in Paris and Madrid, he demonstrated early literary talent, writing his first play at 14 and winning numerous poetry prizes. After a period of financial hardship following his mother's death in 1821, he received an annual pension from Louis XVIII, which helped launch his career. Hugo became a leading figure in the Romantic movement between 1822 and 1832, advocating for literary beauty and the preservation of France's architectural heritage. His early works included the play "Lucrezia Borgia" (1833) and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1831), with "Le Roi S'Amuse" (1832) later serving as the basis for Verdi's opera "Rigoletto." Hugo's literary output often served as a critique of social and political injustice. He was elected to the French Academy in 1841 and became a member of the National Assembly in 1849, aligning with the Democratic Republicans. His outspoken opposition to Napoleon III led to his exile in 1851, first to Brussels and then to the Channel Islands, where he produced several major works, including the globally successful novel "Les Misérables" (1862). Following the fall of the Empire, Hugo returned to Paris in 1870 and was made a senator in 1876. Throughout his life, he campaigned against the death penalty and other causes. He died on May 22, 1885, at the age of 83, and was honored with a national funeral, with his body laid to rest in the Panthéon.