Smiling Man

Author: (French) Victor Hugo
Translator: Zhou Guoqiang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: The Man Who Laughs is the last novel written by the French Romantic literary giant Victor Hugo during his 19 years of exile. It is another masterpiece of Romanticism following The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. Through a series of experiences endured by the noble heir Quasimodo after his face is disfigured, the novel reveals the social reality and sharp contradictions following the 17th-century English bourgeoisie revolution, depicting a vivid picture of the miserable lives of the common people. It is Hugo's highest artistic achievement in fiction, once again embodying his long-standing creative principle of "contrast between beauty and ugliness." It is filled with vigorous democratic passion and a strong sense of social justice, possessing a fervent power of exposure and critique, marking a significant step for Hugo toward realism.