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[[Image:Victor Hugo.jpg|right|200px]]

[[Image:Victor Hugo.jpg|right|200px]]

'''Victor Marie Hugo''' (1802-1885) is considered one of the greatest Romanticist poets.  A prolific [[writer]], he penned the classics ''Cromwell'' (1827), ''[[The Hunchback of Notre Dame]]'' (1831) and ''[[Les Miserables]]'' (1862). Hugo addressed many of the social problems of his time, such as poverty, child labor and women's condition. He was strongly opposed to the death penalty. While he was not blind to their flaws, he admired both the [[French Revolution]] and [[Napoleon]].

'''Victor Marie Hugo''' (1802–1885) is considered one of the greatest Romanticist poets.  A prolific [[writer]], he penned the classics ''Cromwell'' (1827), ''[[The Hunchback of Notre Dame]]'' (1831) and ''[[Les Miserables]]'' (1862). Hugo addressed many of the social problems of his time, such as poverty, child labor, and women's condition. He was strongly opposed to the death penalty. While he was not blind to their flaws, he admired both the [[French Revolution]] and [[Napoleon]].

[[Christianity]] animated his work.  In his Preface to ''Cromwell'', Hugo wrote:

[[Christianity]] animated his work.  In his Preface to ''Cromwell'', Hugo wrote:

== Biography ==

== Biography ==

Victor Hugo was born in Besançon, [[France]] on February 26, 1802 to Sophie Trébuche (mother), and Joseph-Léopold-Sigisbert Hugo (father).  His father traveled in Napoleon's army as a general when Hugo was a child, which forced the family to move a lot.  Weary of this, Sophie separated from Joseph and settled in [[Paris]].

Victor Hugo was born in Besançon, [[France]] on February 26, 1802, to Sophie Trébuche (mother), and Joseph-Léopold-Sigisbert Hugo (father).  His father traveled in Napoleon's army as a general when Hugo was a child, which forced the family to move a lot.  Weary of this, Sophie separated from Joseph and settled in [[Paris]].

Between 1815 and 1818 he studied law, though he never did anything with it.  Encouraged by his mother, he instead pursued a career in literature.  He founded ''Conservateur Litteraire'' where he published his own poems and stories in.

Between 1815 and 1818 he studied law, though he never did anything with it.  Encouraged by his mother, he instead pursued a career in literature.  He founded ''Conservateur Litteraire'' where he published his own poems and stories in.

In 1819, Hugo fell in love and got engaged to Adèle Foucher, against his mother's wishes.  His mother died in 1821, and the next year he married his wife Adèle Foucher, and his jealous brother Eugène went insane because of this.  In the same year, he published his first book of poetry, Odes et Poésies Diverses.  In 1823, he published his first novel, Hans of Iceland.

In 1819, Hugo fell in love and got engaged to Adèle Foucher, against his mother's wishes.  His mother died in 1821, and the next year he married his wife Adèle Foucher, and his jealous brother Eugène went insane because of this.  In the same year, he published his first book of poetry, Odes et Poésies Diverses.  In 1823, he published his first novel, Hans of Iceland.

By 1830, he and his wife had four children.  Tired by her husband's sexual demands and her pregnancies, Adèle began to sleep alone, and eventually had an affair with critic Charles-Augustin Sainte-Beuve.  In 1833, Hugo met the actress Juliette Drouet, who would remain his primary mistress until she died.

By 1830, he and his wife had four children.  Tired of her husband's sexual demands and her pregnancies, Adèle began to sleep alone, and eventually had an affair with critic Charles-Augustin Sainte-Beuve.  In 1833, Hugo met the actress Juliette Drouet, who would remain his primary mistress until she died.

In 1841, he was elected to the French Academy and nominated for the Chamber of Peers.

In 1841, he was elected to the French Academy and nominated for the Chamber of Peers.

In 1848, he was elected to the Constitutional Assembly following the February Revolution of that year.

In 1848, he was elected to the Constitutional Assembly following the February Revolution of that year.

Following [[Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte]]'s coup in 1851, he fled to [[Brussels]].  He didn't return to France until 1970 when Napoleon the Third fell, declinging three amnesties, and living on the [[Channel Islands]] for 19 years.  While living there he wrote his longest and possibly most famous novel, Les MIserables.  When he returned to Paris, he was hailed as a hero of the reublic.

Following [[Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte]]'s coup in 1851, he fled to [[Brussels]].  He didn't return to France until 1970 when Napoleon the Third fell, declining three amnesties, and living on the [[Channel Islands]] for 19 years.  While living there he wrote his longest and possibly most famous novel, Les Miserables.  When he returned to Paris, he was hailed as a hero of the republic.

Between 1871 and 1873, he lost his two sons.

Between 1871 and 1873, he lost his two sons.