Today is the birthday of author Victor Hugo, born February 26, 1802. Most people know him by his novels Les Miserables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, but did you know he was also an artist? Behold, one of Hugo's little doodles below:
Hrmm...anywho, here are some other fascinating tidbits about Hugo:
- Hugo was very close with his mother and even waited until her death to marry his longtime sweetheart, Adele Foucher. Hugo’s mother disapproved of the match.
- Hugo’s play Hernani (1830) started a riot between conservative and liberal factions in the audience.
- The shortest correspondence in history is credited to Hugo and his editor upon the release of Les Miserables. Hugo was on vacation during the time the book was published and was curious as to its success. He telegrammed his editor “?” and was rewarded with the reply “!”
- Although he never directly attacked the Catholic church, he was critical of its dogma.
- More than two million people marched in Victor Hugo’s funeral procession through Paris.
