Rue Victor Hugo

Romantic author of novels, poems and plays, Victor Hugo was also involved in politics. In his books and speeches, he advocates peace and a break with the archaic models of society. Victor Hugo was born on February 26, 1802 in Besançon. He is the last child of a family of three boys. His father Léopold is a general of the Napoleonic Empire.

On October 12, 1822, Victor Hugo épouse Adèle Foucher, a childhood friend. Two years later, she gave birth to their first child, Léopoldine. They will have five children in all.

Victor Hugo is one of the greatest poets, writers and playwrights of the 19th century. He is the famous author of Les Misérables, Notre-Dame de Paris, Hernani and Les Contemplations. Passing from poetry, to novels, to plays, he is the great figure of the romantic movement. During his lifetime, he was recognized by his peers as well as by the French people. His actions, as well at the literary and theatrical level (break with the rules of the classical theory, advancement of the romanticism...) as at the political and social level, are the result of a long experience.) as well as on a political and social level (fight against the death penalty, for peace, in favor of women's condition, denunciation of the clergy...), have played a considerable role in his life. Like La Fontaine or Molière, the works of Victor Hugo enrich the French cultural heritage. His daughter Léopoldine dies in 1843 in a boating accident. This tragedy affects Victor Hugo a lot. Some think that it is because of this event that he turns to politics. On February 8, 1871, he was elected to the National Assembly. In 1876, he was elected Senator. One of his first interventions is a plea for an amnesty for the communards. Hugo did not stop writing. At 75 years old, Victor Hugo continues to write and publishes the Légende des siècles and l'Art d'être grand-père (1877). For his 80th birthday, an estimated crowd of 600,000 people gathered in front of his windows. On May 22, 1885, Victor Hugo died of a pulmonary congestion at the age of 83. The hearse "of the poor", as he wished it, carries his coffin to a national funeral. His coffin is exposed under the Arc de Triomphe during one night, then carried to the Pantheon. A crowd of two million people followed the ceremony. Delegations from around the world made the trip for a final tribute.