1802–1885 · French novelist, poet and playwright
Victor Hugo
Victor Hugo (1802–1885) was a French novelist, poet, dramatist and politician.
Every Hugo book as eBook, audiobook and 15-minute summary, and printed at cost price as a paperback, hardcover or large print. With 200,000+ more classics and household access for the whole family.
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Victor Hugo (1802–1885) was a French novelist, poet, dramatist and politician best known for Les Misérables. Begin there for a former prisoner's struggle to build a new life. Read or listen here: eBook, audiobook and 15-minute summary, and paperback, hardcover or large print, printed at cost, free to start.
Where to start with Victor Hugo
Start hereLes MisérablesSettle into a long reading journey following Jean Valjean as he tries to change his life and care for Cosette.
Read nextThe Hunchback of Notre-DameEnter medieval Paris through a dancer's struggle with obsession and danger, with a Gothic setting and a shorter commitment than Les Misérables.
Read nextNinety-ThreeFor a shorter historical novel, follow three men whose opposing loyalties turn revolutionary duty into a struggle over mercy.
Victor Hugo's books in order
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Novels
| # | First published | Book | Kind | Listening time | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1829 | The Last Day of a Condemned Man A man sentenced to death records his thoughts in prison. | Novel | 4 h 5 min | Free to startRead free |
| 2 | 1831 | The Hunchback of Notre-Dame A dancer faces obsession and danger in medieval Paris. | Novel | 20 h 49 min | Free to startRead free |
| 3 | 1862 | Les Misérables A former prisoner seeks a new life while pursued by law. | Novel | 63 h 50 min | Free to startRead free |
| 4 | 1866 | Toilers of the Sea A lonely islander battles the sea to salvage a ship. | Novel | 16 h 29 min | Free to startRead free |
| 5 | 1869 | The Man Who Laughs: A Romance of English History A disfigured fairground performer faces a hidden claim to nobility. | Novel | 23 h 9 min | Free to startRead free |
| 6 | 1874 | Ninety-Three Three men face choices between revolutionary duty and mercy. | Novel | 14 h 1 min | Free to startRead free |
Poems and plays
| # | First published | Book | Kind | Listening time | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1856 | The Contemplations, Volume 2: Today A father's grief opens into poems of exile and faith. | Poems | 5 h 44 min | Free to startRead free |
| 2 | · | Poems Poems trace family life, political anger, grief, and wonder. | Poems | 8 h 8 min | Free to startRead free |
Letters and non-fiction
| # | First published | Book | Kind | Listening time | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1864 | William Shakespeare Shakespeare’s work prompts an argument about art and freedom. | Non-fiction | 11 h 13 min | Free to startRead free |
| 2 | · | The Memoirs of Victor Hugo A French writer recalls his life amid political upheaval. | Non-fiction | 8 h 43 min | Free to startRead free |
Read and hear all 10 Victor Hugo books
eBook, audiobook and 15-minute summary, and printed at cost price as a paperback, hardcover or large print. Household access for the whole family. Free to start.
About Victor Hugo
Victor Hugo (1802–1885) was a French novelist, poet, dramatist and politician. He was born in Besançon and died in Paris. He wrote The Hunchback of Notre-Dame (1831), Les Misérables (1862) and The Contemplations (1856). He lived in exile in Jersey and Guernsey between 1852 and 1870.
- Born
- 1802
- Died
- 1885
- Best known for
- Les Misérables, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, Ninety-Three
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Questions about Victor Hugo
In what order should I read Victor Hugo?
Read in order of first publication, oldest first, as shown in the table on this page, or begin with the starting picks if you prefer a guided introduction.
Where do I start with Victor Hugo?
Begin with Les Misérables for Jean Valjean's struggle to build a new life after prison. If you prefer a shorter commitment, try Ninety-Three, where revolutionary loyalties clash with mercy.
What is generally regarded as Victor Hugo's most famous book?
Les Misérables is generally regarded as Victor Hugo's most famous book, a novel about a former prisoner seeking a new life. It follows Jean Valjean as he tries to change and care for Cosette.
Which Victor Hugo books are the shortest?
By listening time, the shortest are The Last Day of a Condemned Man (4 hours and 5 minutes), The Contemplations, Volume 2: Today (5 hours and 44 minutes) and Poems (8 hours and 8 minutes).
Can I get Victor Hugo's books in print?
Yes. Every book here comes as a paperback, hardcover or large print, printed when you order; start free and you pay only the cost of printing. Choose the print format that suits how you like to read.
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