VICTOR HUGO Complete Works
Started Reading January1-2014
The Novels
BUG-JARGAL written in 1818
Anonymous translation, 1833
Story occurs in Santo Domingo during early years of the Haitian Revolution.
Features friendship between enslaved African prince and a French military officer.
55 Chapters
HAN D'ISLANDE - HANS OF ICELAND - Published in 1823
Translated by A. Langdon Alger
Main character is Ordener Guldenlew, son of the viceroy of Norway.
He is in love with Ethel, who has been dishonored by the King and imprisoned at the fortress of Munkholm.
51 chapters
LE DERNIER JOUR D'UN CONDAMNE - THE LAST DAYS OF A CONDEMNED MAN
Published in 1829
Translated by Eugenia De B
This novel is a political indictment of the death penalty.
The novel recounts the thoughts of a man condemned to die.
The name of the man is not betrayed to the reader or what he has done, vague hints are given that he has killed someone.
46 papers (chapters)
NOTRE-DAME DE PARIS - THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE-DAME
published in 1831
Translated by Isabel F. Hapgood
One of Hugho's most famous works.
The hunchback was the bell ringer at Notre-Dame.
The novel was very popular in France and ultimately encouraged major renovations at Notre-Dame in the 19th century.
Preface
VOLUME I
BOOK FIRST
I. The Grand Hall
II. Pierre Gringoire
III. Monsieur the Cardinal
IV. Master Jaques Coppenole
V. Quasimodo
VI. Esmeralda
BOOK SECOND
I. From Charybdis to Scylla
II. The Place de Greve
III. Kisses for Blows
IV. The Inconveniences of Following a Pretty Woman Through the Streets in the Evening
V. Result of the Danger
VI. The Broken Jug
VII. Bridal Knight
BOOK THIRD
I. Notre-Dame
II. A Bird's Eye View of Paris
BOOK FOURTH
I. Good Souls
II. Claude Frollo
III. Immanis Pecoris Custos, Immanior Ipse
IV. The Dog and His Master
V. More About Claude Frollo
VI. Unpopularity
BOOK FIFTH
I. Abbas Beati Martini
II. This Will Kill That
BOOK SIXTH
I. An Impartial Glance at the Ancient Magistry
II. The Rat-Hole
III. History of a Leavened Cake of Maize
IV. A Tear for a Drop of Water
V. End of the Story of the Cake
VOLUME II.
I. The Danger of Condiding One's Secret to a Goat
II. A Priest and A Philosopher are Two Different Things
III. The Bells
IV. ANArKHV. The Two Men Clothed in Black
VI. The Effect Which Seven Oaths in the Open Air Can Produce
VII. The Mysterious Monk
VIII. The Utility of Windows Which Open on the River
BOOK EIGHTH
I. The Crown Changes into a Dry Leaf
II. Continuation of the Crown Which Was Changed into a Dry Leaf
III. End of the Crown Which Was Turned into a Dry Leaf
IV. Lasciate Ogni Speranza - Leave All Hope Behind, Ye Who
V. The Mother
VI. Three Human Hearts Differently Constructed
BOOK NINTH
I. Delirium
II. Hunchbacked, One Eyed, Lame
III. Deaf
IV. Earthenware and Crystal
V. The Key to the Red Door
VI. Continuation of the Key to the Red Door
BOOK TENTH
I. Gringoire Has Many Good Ideas in Succession. - Rue Des Bernardins
II. Turn Vagabond
III. Long Live Mirth
IV. An Awkward Friend
V. The Retreat in Which Monsieur Louis of France Says His Prayers
VI. Little Sword in Pocket
VII. Chateaupers to the Rescue
BOOK ELEVENTH
I. The Little Shoe
II. The Beautiful Creature Clad in White. (Dante.)
III. The Marriage of Phoebus
IV. The Marriage of Quasimodo
Note added to the definition edition.
Completed reading it today 1-25-2014
A marvelous story with great expense right to end.
CLAUDE GUEUX
Written in 1834 - Translated by Eugenia De B
Considered to be an early example of crime fiction, containing Hugo's thoughts on injustice in society. A lesser known work but its content would later inspire Hugo in writing of Les Miserables.One of his comments we should apply today: "You could defray the expenses of 600 school masters with the wages you give to 80 executioners."
LES MISERABLES
Written in 1862 - Translated by Isabel F. Hapgood
Widely considered to be one of the greatest works of the 19th century.
The novel focuses on the struggles of ex-convict Jean Valjean and his journey to redemption. It also concerns the History of France, Paris architecture, politics, moral philosophy, antimonachism, justice, religion and many more themes.
Contains 365 chapters, each usually short, 1,500 pages in most printed editions.
VOLUME I. Fantine
Book 1. A Just Man
Book 2. The Fall
Book 3. In the Year 1817
Book 4. To Confide is Sometimes to Deliver into a Person's Power
Book 5. The Descent
Book 6. Javert
Book 7. The Champ Mathieu Affair
Book 8. A Counter Blow
VOLUME II. Cosette
Book 1. Waterloo
Book 2. The Ship Orion
Book 3. Accomplishment of the Promise Made to the Dead Woman
Book 4. The Gorbeau Hovel
Book 5. For a Black Hunt, a Mute Pack
Book 6. Le Petit-Picpus
Book 7. Parenthesis
Book 8. Cemeteries Take That Which is Committed Them
VOLUME III. Marius
Book 1. Paris Studied in its Atom
Book 2. The Great Bourgeois
Book 3. The Grandfather and the Grandson
Book 4. The Friends of the A B C
Book 5. The Excellence of Misfortune
Book 6. The Conjunction of Two Stars
Book 7. Patron Minette
Book 8. The Wicked Poor Man
VOLUME IV. Saint Denis
Book 1. A Few Pages of History
Book 2. Eponine
Book 3. The House in the Rue Pumet
Book 4. Succor from Below May Turn out to be Succor from on High
Book 5. The End of Which Does not Resemble the Beginning
Book 6. Little Gavroche
Book 7. Slang
Book 8. Enchantments and Desolations
Book 9. Whither are They Going
Book 10. The 5th of June, 1832
Book 11. The Atom Fraternizes With the Hurricane
Book 12. Corinthe
Book 13. Marius Enters the Shadow
Book 14. The Grandeurs of Despair
Book 15. The Rue De L'Homme Arme
VOLUME V. Jean Valjean
Book 1. The War Between Four Walls
Book 2. The Intestine of the Leviathan
Book 3. Mud But the Soul
Book 4. Javert Derailed
Book 5. Grandson and Grandfather
Book 6. The Sleepless Night
Book 7. The Last Draught from the Cup
Book 8. Fading Away if the Twilight
Book 9. Supreme Shadow, Supreme Dawn
Final letter by Victor Hugo:
"Wether we are Italians or Frenchmen misery concerns us all. The moment at length has arrived for tearing off the rag, and replacing the sinister fragment of the past with the grand purple robe of dawn."
Took a full month to read it all. FMM
LES TRAVAILLEURS DE LA MER (Toilers of the Sea) 1866 in Brussels
Translated by W. May Thomas
Dedicated to the island of Guernsey
Introduction
Preface
PART I. Sieur Clubin
Book I. The History of a Bad Reputation
Book II. Mess Lethierry
Book III. Durande and Deruchette
Book IV. The Bagpipe
Book V. The Revolver
Book VI. The Drunken Steersman and the Sober Captain
Book VII. The Danger of Opening a Book At Random
PART II. Malicious Gilliatt
Book I. The Rock
Book II. The Labour
Book III. The Struggle
Book IV. Pitfalls in the Way
PART III. Deruchette
Book I. Night and the Moon
Book II. Gratitude and Despotism
Book III. The Departure of the Casmere
Started reading 3-4-2014
Reading complete 3-12-2014
Fantastic story about the shipwreck of the first steam powered ship near Guernesy island and the recovery of it . A surprise ending with some love scenes.
L'HOMME QUI RIT (The Man Who Laughs) 1869
Anonymous translation, 1901
Romance novel set in 17th century england.
Hugo criticises the class system mercilessly.
A 1928 American silent film was based on this novel.
PART I
First, Second, and Third Books
PART II
First thru Ninth Books
In the end Dea dies and Gwynplaine jumps overboard into the sea at night.
QUATREVINGT-TREIZE (NINETY-THREE) 1874
Anonymouse translation, 1901
Hugo's last novel, 3 different stories, mainly take place in France, as well as the channel islands, where Hugo lived in later years. Begins in 1793, Concerns the French Revolution.
PART FIRST - At Sea
Book First - The Woods of La Saudraie
Book Second - The Corvette "Claymore."
Book Third - Halmalo
Book Fourth - Tellmarch
PART SECOND - In Paris
Book First - Cimourdain
Book Second - The Public House of the Rue Du Paon
Book Third - The Convention
PART THIRD - In Vendee
Book First - La Vendee
Book Second - The Three Children
Book Third - The Massacre of Saint Bartholomew
Book Fourth - The Mother
Book Fifth - In Daemone Deus
Book Sixth - The Battle After the Victory
Book Seventh - Feudalism and Revolution
Started reading on April 1, 2014
Completed reading on April 18, 2014
The Poetry
POEMS IN TRANSLATION
ODES ET BALLADES
LES ORIENTALES
