Cover of Poems

Poems

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

"Poems" by Victor Hugo is a collection of poetic works penned in the late 19th century. This anthology showcases Hugo’s mastery of language and his profound engagement with themes of love, loss, and the human experience. The collection features a mix of early poems, odes, and ballads, which reflect the author's emotional depth and political ideology, encapsulating his artistic evolution over the years. The beginning of "Poems" introduces readers to Victor Hugo's life and contexts shaping his writing. The memoir presents a brief biography, highlighting Hugo's experiences during turbulent times in France, from the Revolution to his emergence as a literary giant. Following the memoir, the opening poems express Hugo's range of emotions and thoughts, beginning with "Moses on the Nile," which explores the tender rescue of an infant by a royal figure amidst a backdrop of despair and political strife. Another notable piece, "Envy and Avarice," depicts two sisters embodying these vices, ultimately leading to a moral reflection on the human condition. The initial chapters set the stage for a rich exploration of Hugo's poetic vision, inviting readers into a world filled with evocative imagery and poignant themes.

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  • French poetry · Translations into English
  • Hugo, Victor, 1802-1885 · Translations into English

Read the opening

Chapter I

Hast seen it pass, that cloud of darkest rim?
Now red and glorious, and now gray and dim,
Now sad as summer, barren in its heat?
One seems to see at once rush through the night
The smoke and turmoil from a burning site
Of some great town in fiery grasp complete.

Whence comes it? From the sea, the hills, the sky?
Is it the flaming chariot from on high
Which demons to some planet seem to bring?
Oh, horror! from its wondrous centre, lo!
A furious stream of lightning seems to flow
Like a long snake uncoiling its fell ring.

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Contents

Show all 42 chapters
  1. Front Matter
  2. Chapter I
  3. Chapter II
  4. Chapter III
  5. Chapter IV
  6. Chapter V
  7. Chapter VI
  8. Chapter VII
  9. Chapter VIII
  10. Chapter IX
  11. Chapter X
  12. Chapter XI
  13. Chapter I
  14. Chapter II
  15. Chapter I
  16. Chapter II
  17. Chapter I
  18. Chapter II
  19. Chapter III
  20. Chapter IV
  21. Chapter V
  22. Chapter VI
  23. Chapter VII
  24. Chapter VIII
  25. Chapter IX
  26. Chapter X
  27. Chapter XI
  28. Chapter XII
  29. Chapter XIII
  30. Chapter XIV
  31. Chapter XV
  32. Chapter XVI
  33. Chapter XVII
  34. Chapter XVIII
  35. Chapter I
  36. Chapter II
  37. Chapter III
  38. Chapter IV
  39. Chapter V
  40. Chapter VI
  41. Chapter VII
  42. Chapter VIII

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About this edition

This free edition of Poems by Victor Hugo comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #8775, released 2005-08-01. 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: Poetry, French Literature.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

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