INTRODUCTION

Victor Marie Hugo was bom in Besançon, in 1802. He died in Paris, in 1885, honored and beloved by the whole nation and renowned throughout the world. The story of his life is as interesting as a romance. His father was an army ofïicer of ability and served under the Empire. In conséquence of his father' s profession as a soldier, his mother made many toilsome journeys, taking Victor with her to Marseilles even when he was but six weeks old. Before the âge of ten, Hugo had traveled far — from Paris to the Isle of Elba, from Paris to Naples, from Paris to Madrid.

When nineteen years of âge, Hugo

lost his fondly cherished mother, to

whom he was deeply indebted for her

loving care and wise instruction.