Things Seen

by Victor Hugo

Essays by Victor Hugo. A facsimile reprint from the "Edition de Luxe" (limited to 1,000 copies).

Genres: Biography, French Literature, Nonfiction

314 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1887

About the author

After Napoleon III seized power in 1851, French writer Victor Marie Hugo went into exile and in 1870 returned to France; his novels include The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1831) and Les Misérables (1862).

This poet, playwright, novelist, dramatist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, and perhaps the most influential, important exponent of the Romantic movement in France, campaigned for human rights. People in France regard him as one of greatest poets of that country and know him better abroad.

Reviews

[Tien · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is filled with events which were memorable to Victor Hugo. Whilst events referred to are real, it is filled with many descriptions and reads rather like short stories. Since Hugo is a bard at heart, this is not surprising. They were quite enjoyable to read though not that easy mostly because I'm not familiar with Hugo's life nor French history. I think I'd like it better if I'm familiar with these things as I'd know better what he's talking about and why certain things he said may be funny or ironic etc.

[Stephen Kibler · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's all pretty interesting ... but the first bit where M. Hugo is wandering about Paris during the riots is fascinating.