Monatsarchive: September 2017

Under Sentence of Death – Victor Hugo

In this book are depicted and analyzed, in due succession, all the physical sufferings, all the mental tortures a man condemned to death can experience during the hours which immediately precede his execution. This terribly moving plea was read widely and sympathetically. In a preface to the edition of 1832 the author says: ‘The author’s design in this work, that to which he would call the attention of posterity, is not a special defense, always facile and always transitory, of such-and-such a chosen criminal; it is a general and permanent plea for all the accused, present and future. It is the great cause of human rights drawn up and pleaded in every voice … Read more.../Mehr lesen ...

The History of a Crime – Victor Hugo

Victor Hugo wrote this work whilst in exile for taking part in the events herein described. His story is thrillingly told. The world for the first time gets all the details of the coup d’ état by which Louis Napoleon became emperor of France. The book reads like a novel, and yet its action only goes over two days and is all strictly historical. Its publication caused a great excitement in Paris that October, and probably prevented a similar attack upon the liberties of France and the Republic. At all events, it was this fear which caused Victor Hugo to make his testimony public; for he said, “This work is more than … Read more.../Mehr lesen ...

Bug-Jargal – Victor Hugo

The story is a dramatic episode of the revolt of the blacks of St. Domingo in 1791. Bug-Jargal, the hero, is a negro, a slave in the household of a planter. He is secretly in love with his master’s daughter, a poetic child, betrothed to her cousin, Leopold d’Auverney. The latter saves the life of Bug-Jargal, who is condemned to death for an act of rebellion. When the great revolt breaks out, and the whole island is in flames, Bug-Jargal protects the young girl, and saves the life of her lover. He even conducts D’Auverney to her he loves, and then, in the fullness of sublime abnegation, he surrenders himself to the whites, who shoot him … Read more.../Mehr lesen ...

Ninety-Three – Victor Hugo

The Revolution at its apogee, the fatal term of the contest waged by new ideas against the old social order, by liberty against despotism, by law against tyranny; and from this conflict, from this atmosphere of blood, progress and humanity triumphantly disengaging themselves; —such is the essence of the book. The drama, intermingled with graceful episodes and charming situations, is acted upon that ancient Vendéan soil, whose wild, picturesque landscapes are reproduced by the master’s pen. This romance obtained a success equal to that of Les Misérables.

Ninety-Three

Format: Paperback

Ninety-Three.

ISBN: 9783849676940.

Available at amazon.com and other venues.

The Writings of Victor Hugo (from Wikipedia):

Hugo published his first novel the year following his … Read more.../Mehr lesen ...