10 Most Amazing And Inspiring Refugees In History

Victor Hugo was one of the most important artists in French history and a figure of admiration in devotion in France. Hugo is famed around France for his poems, prose, dramatic work and drawings, although “Les Miserables” remains his best known work and it has received many adaptations through the years including a recent blockbuster film. 

However this great French literary was at one time not even welcome in his own country. Hugo had a life long interest in politics and, after early days as a monarchist, he became a committed and vocal Republican, speaking out for liberty and the rule of democracy. 

Following Emperor Napoelon III overthrow of the Second French Republic 1851 harsh and repressive laws were brought in, thousands were sent to penal colonies and many more, including Victor Hugo, were driven into exile. Although he pined for Paris Hugo travelled around Europe, continuing to work, publish and consolidate his fame. 

He would settle on the island on Guernsey, controlled by the British Empire, and from here he would continue his work. Hugo would eventually return to Paris in 1870, upon the death of Napoleon III and the restoration of Republicanism, where he was greeted with fanfare and devotion by the people of France.