Juliette Drouet

Born Julienne Joséphine Gauvain in 1806, Juliette Drouet began her career as an actress in France. She is best known today for her long relationship with Victor Hugo, which began in the 1830s and lasted for decades.

After leaving the theater, she became far more than a romantic partner: she served as Hugo’s close companion, secretary, and fellow traveler, including during parts of his exile. Their connection has drawn lasting interest because it linked her life so closely with one of the great figures of French literature.

Drouet died in 1883. She remains an important historical figure in her own right, especially through the thousands of letters she wrote, which offer a personal window into nineteenth-century literary and cultural life.