Early Life and Family Background

Victor Hugo was a French writer and politician who lived from 1802 to 1885. Many regard him as a top writer of his generation. He wrote several hit novels, plays, and essays that are still popular today. Hugo was born Victor-Marie Hugo on 26 February 1802 in Besançon in Eastern France.

Victor Hugo was the youngest son of Joseph Léopold Sigisbert Hugo, a general in the Napoleonic army, and Sophie Trébuchet.  The Hugo family came from Nancy in Lorraine. Hugo spent his childhood travelling extensively with his family to various countries.

Literary Career

Hugo began his career as a poet and published his first set of poems in 1822. His play Cromwell helped establish him as a leading writer of his time and gained him a lot of prominence. He followed this success with other notable dramas which were all critically acclaimed.

Political Involvement

Victor Hugo was also involved in politics and was elected to the National Assembly in 1848. He opposed the leadership of Napoléon Bonaparte and fled his country into exile for several years. However, he continued to write and published one of his most famous works during this time, Les Misérables.

He returned to France in 1870 after the fall of the Second Empire and was elected to the National Assembly again in 1871 and then to the Senate in 1876.

Personal Life

Hugo was married to Adèle Foucher in October 1822. The couple had four children together.

Death and Legacy

Victor Hugo passed away in 1885 at the age of 83.