Victor Hugo (February 26 1802 - May 22 1885) was the most important of the Romantic authors in the French language.
One of the most powerful and popular authors of 19th century France, and a champion of republicanism exiled during the reign of Napoleon III and returned in 1870.
Major works include novels and a large body of poetry. His death, and the spontaneous national mourning which followed, inspired the French government to reinvent The Panthéon in Paris as a temple in homage to the great men (and, eventually, women) of France. He is buried in its necropolis.
Some of his works:
- Cromwell, 1827
- Hernani, 1830 (now remembered mainly as the source for Verdi's opera, Ernani)at the time when this drama was staged, it was so insurrectionist in style and content that it caused nightly riots at the La Comédie Français.)
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame, 1831
- Les Misérables, 1862