Author: Victor Hugo / Year: 1802-1885 / Genre:Historic Novel Book 01
The narrator mentions a number of historical details about the year 1817, which is the 22nd year of Louis XVIII’s reign. These include the popularity of the singer Pellegrini, the executions of several major criminals, the subjects for the prizes at the French Academy, and the disappearance of all the marks of Napoleon’s reign—like the “N” on the Louvre and his name on the list of important Institutes. Everyone has agreed that Louis XVIII has closed the time of revolution forever.
Author: Victor Hugo / Year: 1802-1885 / Genre:Historic Novels Book 02
In 1817 four young men arrive in Paris from various provincial cities to study. They are normal 20-year-olds, neither wise nor ignorant, good nor bad. Their names are Felix Tholomyes, Listolier, Fameuil, and Blancheville, and each takes a mistress: Fantine, Dahlia, Zephine, and Favourite, respectively. The latter three are older and more experienced, while Fantine “the Blonde” still holds the illusions of youth and love. Her feelings for Tholomyes are truer than those of the other girls. No one knows where she comes from or who her parents were. She had come to Paris at 15 to “seek her fortune.” For Tholomyes, though, their relationship is only a tryst.
