Victor Hugo
Également connu sous : Victor Hugo, Hugo
## Basic Information
Victor-Marie Hugo (26 February 1802 -- 22 May 1885) was a French poet, novelist, and dramatist, widely considered one of the greatest writers in the French language. Author of Les Miserables (1862) and Notre-Dame de Paris (1831), he was the dominant literary figure of 19th century France.
## Historical Context During Marie's Lifetime
During the period of Marie's diary (1873-1884), Hugo was at the height of his fame and influence: - *Political figure: Senator of the Third Republic from 1876 - National icon: The most famous living Frenchman, a symbol of republicanism and literary greatness - Cultural presence: His plays were performed across France; his novels were universally read - Salon figure: He held famous gatherings at his homes in Paris - Death in 1885*: His state funeral, attended by over 2 million people, occurred the year after Marie's death
## Connection to Marie
Marie references Hugo as part of the literary and cultural landscape of her time. As an intellectually ambitious young woman who read voraciously and aspired to fame, Hugo represented the pinnacle of French cultural achievement. His political engagement (republicanism) would have intersected with Marie's own evolving political views, though her Bonapartist sympathies (through Cassagnac) complicated this.