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The Memoirs of Victor Hugo

by Victor Hugo (1802–1885)

  • Free to read
  • 5 hours to read
  • 27 chapters
  • Reading level: 7th grade

"The Memoirs of Victor Hugo" by Victor Hugo is a collection of autobiographical reflections and historical accounts written during the late 19th century. The text follows the life of the renowned French author, providing a vivid portrayal of his experiences and observations throughout a transformative era in France, marked by political upheaval and cultural evolution. The opening of this memoir establishes the dual nature of the work as both historical and intimate, delving into Hugo's personal encounters and impressions of significant events, including the coronation of Charles X and the execution of Louis XVI. The narrative begins with Hugo recalling a trip to Rheims in 1825, where he first heard of Shakespeare, intertwining memories of royal ceremonies with reflections on art and literature. Initial snapshots depict not only the grandeur of the era but also the naïveté and folly of the characters involved in these historical moments. This blend of personal memoir and historical commentary sets the stage for a rich exploration of Hugo's life, littered with anecdotes that reflect the wider societal transformations of his time.

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  • Autobiographies
  • Authors, French · 19th century · Biography
  • Hugo, Victor, 1802-1885

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I. The Execution of Louis Xvi

There were certain characteristic details connected with the execution of Louis XVI. that are not recorded in history. They were recounted to me by an eye-witness* and are here published for the first time.

* This eye witness was one Leboucher, who arrived in Paris
from Bourges in December, 1792, and was present at the
execution of Louis XVI. In 1840 he recounted to Victor Hugo
most of these details which, as can easily be imagined, had
impressed themselves deeply upon his mind.

The scaffold was not, as is generally believed, erected in the very centre of the Place, on the spot where the obelisk now stands, but on a spot which the decree of the Provisional Executive Council designates in these precise terms: “between the pied d’estal and the Champs-Elysées.”

What was this pedestal? Present generations who have seen so many things happen, so many statues crumble and so many pedestals overthrown do not quite know what meaning to give to this very vague designation, and would be embarrassed to tell for what monument the mysterious stone which the Executive Council of the Revolution laconically calls the “pied d’estal” served as a base. This stone had borne the statue of Louis XV.

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Contents

Show all 27 chapters
  1. Preface
  2. I. The Execution of Louis Xvi
  3. II. Arrival of Napoleon in Paris. March 20, 1815
  4. I. The Hovel
  5. II. Pillage. The Revolt in Santo Domingo
  6. III. A Dream. September 6, 1847
  7. IV. The Panel with the Coat of Arms
  8. V. The Easter Daisy. May 29, 1841
  9. I. The King. * June, 28, 1844
  10. II. The Duchess D’orleans
  11. III. The Princes. 1847
  12. I. The Days of February
  13. II. Expulsions and Escapes: May 3, 1848
  14. III. Louis Philippe in Exile. May 3, 1848
  15. IV. King Jerome
  16. V. The Days of June
  17. VI. Chateaubriand: July 5, 1848
  18. VII. Debates in the National Assembly on the Days of June
  19. I. The Jardin D’hiver. February, 1849
  20. II. General Brea’s Murderers. March, 1849
  21. III. The Suicide of Antonin Moyne. April, 1849
  22. IV. A Visit to the Old Chamber of Peers. June, 1849
  23. I. His Debuts
  24. II. His Elevation to the Presidency. December 1848
  25. III. The First Official Dinner. December 24, 1848
  26. IV. The First Month. January. 1849
  27. V. Feeling His Way. January, 1849

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About this edition

This free edition of The Memoirs of Victor Hugo by Victor Hugo comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #2523, released 2001-02-01. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Biographies, French Literature.

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