Victor Hugo’s achievements as a poet were largely overshadowed by the greatness of his novels. Hugo was born to Joseph Leopold Sigisbert Hugo and Sophie Trebuchet in 1802.
His first book of poems, ‘Odes et poesies diverses’ was published in 1822. The poems were pro-royalist, and this prompted Louis XVIII to award him a pension. The poems are in a classical form. Hugo’s unique style and imagination can be detected in these poems.
His most touching poem and perhaps his most famous one is ‘Demain, des l’aube’. In the poem, Hugo narrates his visit to the grave of his daughter who died at the age of nineteen. Hugo also published ‘Odes et ballades’, a collection of odes previously printed. Hugo penned a number of other well known poems.
Hugo’s popularity reached its height after the publication of his novels, ‘Notre-Dame de Paris’, and ‘Les Miserables’. Hugo succumbed to pneumonia, and died on 22nd May 1885.
Victor Hugo was the most influential of the French writers and one of the greatest literary figures of all time.