The Memoirs of Victor Hugo
This volume of memoirs has a double character—historical and intimate. The life of a period, the XIX Century, is bound up in the life of a man, VICTOR HUGO. As we follow the events set forth we get the impression they made upon the mind of the extraordinary man who recounts them; and of all the personages he brings before us he himself is assuredly not the least interesting. In portraits from the brushes of Rembrandts there are always two portraits, that of the model and that of the painter.
This is not a diary of events arranged in chronological order, nor is it a continuous autobiography. It is less and it is more, or rather, it is better than these. It is a sort of haphazard chronique in which only striking incidents and occurrences are brought out, and lengthy and wearisome details are avoided. VICTOR HUGO’S long and chequered life was filled with experiences of the most diverse character—literature and politics, the court and the street, parliament and the theatre, labour, struggles, disappointments, exile and triumphs. Hence we get a series of pictures of infinite variety.
Let us pass the gallery rapidly in review.
It opens in 1825, at Rheims, during the coronation of CHARLES X, with an amusing causerie on the manners and customs of the Restoration. The splendour of this coronation ceremony was singularly spoiled by the pitiable taste of those who had charge of it. These worthies took upon themselves to mutilate the sculpture work on the marvellous façade and to “embellish” the austere cathedral with Gothic decorations of cardboard. The century, like the author, was young, and in some things both were incredibly ignorant; the masterpieces of literature were then unknown to the most learned littérateurs : CHARLES NODIER had never read the “Romancero”, and VICTOR HUGO knew little or nothing about Shakespeare.
At the outset the poet dominates in VICTOR HUGO; he belongs wholly to his creative imagination and to his literary work. It is the theatre; it is his “Cid”, and “Hernani”, with its stormy performances; it is the group of his actors, Mlle. MARS, Mlle. GEORGES, FREDERICK LEMAITRE, the French KEAN, with more genius; it is the Academy, with its different kind of coteries.
Victor Hugo
THE MEMOIRS OF VICTOR HUGO
PREFACE.
AT RHEIMS. 1823-1838.
RECOUNTED BY EYE-WITNESSES
I. THE EXECUTION OF LOUIS XVI.
II. ARRIVAL OF NAPOLEON IN PARIS. March 20, 1815.
VISIONS OF THE REAL.
I. THE HOVEL.
II. PILLAGE. THE REVOLT IN SANTO DOMINGO.
III. A DREAM. September 6, 1847.
IV. THE PANEL WITH THE COAT OF ARMS.
V. THE EASTER DAISY. May 29, 1841.
THEATER
JOANNY. March 7, 1830, Midnight.
MADEMOISELLE MARS.
FREDERICK LEMAITRE.
THE COMIQUES September, 1846
MADEMOISELLE GEORGES. October, 23, 1867.
TABLEAUX VIVANTS
AT THE ACADEMY.
Session of November 23, 1843.
October 8, 1844.
This is what was told to me at to-day’s session:
1845.
AN ELECTION SESSION.
February 11, 1847.
March 16, 1847.
April 22, 1847.
October 4, 1847.
I have just heard M. Viennet say: “I think in bronze.”
December 29, 1848. Friday.
March 26, 1850. Tuesday.
AN ELECTION SESSION. March 28, 1850.
LOVE IN PRISON.
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
AT THE TUILERIES. 1844-1848.
I. THE KING. * June, 28, 1844.
July, 1844.
A few days ago the King said to Marshal Soult (in presence of others):
August 4, 1844.
Yesterday the King said to me:
August, 1844.
August, 1844.
September 5, 1844.
September 6, 1844.
The King said to me yesterday:
September 6, 1844.
September 7, 1844.
Said the King to me last Thursday:
1847.
II. THE DUCHESS D’ORLEANS.
February 26, 1844.
Yesterday the Duchess d’Orleans said to me:
August, 1844.
1847.
III. THE PRINCES. 1847.
November 5, 1847.
IN THE CHAMBER OF PEERS. 1846.
GENERAL FABVIER
August 22, 1846.
April 23, 1847.
June 22, 1847.
June 28, 1847.
On arriving at the Chamber I found Franck-Carre greatly scandalised.
1848.
January 14, 1848.
THE REVOLUTION OF 1848.
I. THE DAYS OF FEBRUARY.
THE TWENTY-THIRD.
THE TWENTY-FOURTH.
THE TWENTY-FIFTH.
II. EXPULSIONS AND ESCAPES.
May 3, 1848.
III. LOUIS PHILIPPE IN EXILE. May 3, 1848.
IV. KING JEROME.
RELATED BY KING JEROME.
V. THE DAYS OF JUNE.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
June 25.
VI. CHATEAUBRIAND.
July 5, 1848.
VII. DEBATES IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ON THE DAYS OF JUNE.
SESSION OF NOVEMBER 25, 1848.
1849.
I. THE JARDIN D’HIVER. FEBRUARY, 1849.
II. GENERAL BREA’S MURDERERS. March, 1849.
III. THE SUICIDE OF ANTONIN MOYNE. April, 1849.
IV. A VISIT TO THE OLD CHAMBER OF PEERS. June, 1849.
SKETCHES MADE IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.
ODILON BARROT.
MONSIEUR THIERS.
DUFAURE.
CHANGARNIER.
LAGRANGE.
PRUDHON.
BLANQUI.
LAMARTINE. February 23, 1850.
BOULAY DE LA MEURTHE.
DUPIN.
LOUIS BONAPARTE.
I. HIS DEBUTS.
September 26.
October 9.
November 1848.
On November 19 I dined at Odilon Barrot’s at Bougival.
II. HIS ELEVATION TO THE PRESIDENCY. December 1848.
III. THE FIRST OFFICIAL DINNER. December 24, 1848.
IV. THE FIRST MONTH. January. 1849.
V. FEELING HIS WAY. January, 1849.
February, 1849.
THE SIEGE OF PARIS. EXTRACTS FROM NOTE-BOOKS
THE ASSEMBLY AT BORDEAUX. EXTRACTS FROM NOTE-BOOKS.