
VICTOR HUGO
EDITED BY G. F. BRIDGE, M.A.
GENERAL PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
PRÉFACE DE LA PREMIÈRE SÉRIE
LA LÉGENDE DES SIECLES
LA CONSCIENCE
PUISSANCE ÉGALE BONTÉ
BOOZ ENDORMI
Spanning the sweep of human history, this vast poetic tapestry presents humanity itself as the central hero, moving from the shadows of antiquity toward an imagined golden age. The poet’s original vision was to create a cyclical work that weaves together history, myth, philosophy, and science into a single, ascending motion toward the light. Though the project was never fully completed, the existing sections offer vivid portraits of epochs—from ancient battles to the turmoil of the Napoleonic era—each rendered in resonant, dramatic verse.
Listeners encounter striking scenes such as the heroic climax of a medieval regiment, the stark moral dilemmas of revolutionary fervor, and tender reflections on the timeless struggles of the human spirit. The poetry balances grand historical spectacle with intimate emotional depth, inviting contemplation of how each generation carries both the weight and hope of its forebears. With its rich language and sweeping ambition, the work remains a powerful meditation on progress, suffering, and the relentless quest for enlightenment.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (349K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Stan Goodman, Rénald Lévesque and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
Release date
Apr 1, 2004
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1802–1885
One of the great voices of French literature, he turned sweeping stories of justice, love, and social struggle into books that still feel alive today. Best known for Les Misérables and Notre-Dame de Paris, he matched epic storytelling with deep sympathy for ordinary people.
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by Victor Hugo

by Victor Hugo