Item 20: Letter from Victor Hugo to Unknown, no date
Item — Box: 4, Folder: 20
Dates
- Created: no date
Creator
- Hugo, Victor, 1802-1885 (Person)
Disclaimer for Name and Subject Authorities
Some of the name and subject authority tags have been assigned by educated guessing and estimation of persons and subjects by region, age, profession, and familial relationships. They have been thoroughly researched by using primary and secondary sources available digitally, and named in each description, or in some cases linked directly to the person tag.
Access:
All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.
Extent
1 items
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Type of Material:
Letter
Condition Note:
Okay. Fragile paper. Vinegar smell.
Measurements:
7 ⅞ in. x 5 in.
Description:
The letter is authored on an unknown date by French Romantic writer and politician, Victor Hugo, to an unknown recipient. Hugo most famously authors titles such as, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and Les Misérables, texts which both immersed the reader in his vivid landscape while stoking his campaign for vital social issues of the time through empathic connection to his characters. In the letter, Hugo is reaching out to reaffirm an acquaintance with the unnown recipient on the letter. Hugo explains that a friend of his has asked that he recommend them to the recipient, for they both admired the way in which the recipient played the music of a friend. Hugo says that the recipient played the Cassassation, which is an 18th-century genre for orchestra or small ensemble that was written in several short movements, that followed similar elements as seen in the 18th-century serenades and divertimentos.
The recipient may be connected with the Odéon–Théâtre de l'Europe, the National Odeon theater in France. The theater was a prominent entertaining space, which even performed the work of Victor Hugo himself, such as Hernani in 1940, which was so beloved within the theater is was revived several times over the following decade. You can see an original news article where Hugo is mentioned in the Odeon’s theater’s 100th birthday celebration.
Victor Hugo also created a news publication in 1848, called l'Evénement. The aim and content of the paper was supported by those who supported Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte’s candidacy for the presidency of the Republic. The paper became known as radical, and spoke to many controversial particulars of the period, such as advocating against the death penalty and against the new press law of July 1850. It is known as one of the most contested and restricted papers, as it faced maximum fines due to content complaints and Jules Bastide, Minister of Foreign Affairs, later removed the paper from the stands themselves in 1849. You can see an image of the publication from Retro News France’s digitized collection. The paper makes an appearance in another letter by an author in the collection, Jules Verne.
The letter mentions German author, Ferdinand Freiligrath. Freiligrath wrote an introductory foreword for Hugo’s title, Lyrische Gedichte, a compilation of many prolific poetic voices.
The recipient may be connected with the Odéon–Théâtre de l'Europe, the National Odeon theater in France. The theater was a prominent entertaining space, which even performed the work of Victor Hugo himself, such as Hernani in 1940, which was so beloved within the theater is was revived several times over the following decade. You can see an original news article where Hugo is mentioned in the Odeon’s theater’s 100th birthday celebration.
Victor Hugo also created a news publication in 1848, called l'Evénement. The aim and content of the paper was supported by those who supported Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte’s candidacy for the presidency of the Republic. The paper became known as radical, and spoke to many controversial particulars of the period, such as advocating against the death penalty and against the new press law of July 1850. It is known as one of the most contested and restricted papers, as it faced maximum fines due to content complaints and Jules Bastide, Minister of Foreign Affairs, later removed the paper from the stands themselves in 1849. You can see an image of the publication from Retro News France’s digitized collection. The paper makes an appearance in another letter by an author in the collection, Jules Verne.
The letter mentions German author, Ferdinand Freiligrath. Freiligrath wrote an introductory foreword for Hugo’s title, Lyrische Gedichte, a compilation of many prolific poetic voices.
Location:
Odéon–Théâtre de l'Europe (The National Odeon Theater)
Rough Transcription and translation attempt:
Transcript Attempt: [Roughly Translated]
Permettez-moi, monsieur, on s’appelle a M[onsieur] Jomenir(?) mon nom que(?) Victor avez sans doute oublié, et se réclame pour mon ami cette bien et —(?) —(?) a —(?) il veux(?) en dans d’a–(?) les jouerez sons. M. H. Remard, qui vous remettrez a biller, eut musee(?) d’une —(?) ou Freiligrath qu’ils ont les a l’odéon sons(?) pour de jouer. Veux serez aux(?) de(?) juger(?). Il desire que je le recommande(?) a vous(?) indulgence, je veux aises(?) qu’il n’a bonnie que R. M(?) jusrien(?). Je ne doute(?) pas que se plaisir(?) et(?) d’out(?) reçu avec honneur et que Victor a veut(?) Felicitez en jouer d’ami œuvre(?) la cassation(?) a une jouee(?) honneur on recu et de(?) —(?)
V—(?) bien(?) endosseur(?)
d’écuré(?) serviteur(?)
Victor Hugo
Translation Attempt:
[Allow me, sir, we are called Mr. Somenir(?), my name that Victor has no doubt forgotten and claims for my firend this well and —(?). Mr. H. Remard, who will give you back a bill, and —(?) of a — or Freiligrath, that they [have at] the Odeon — sounds for to play. You will be the judge(?). He desires that I reccomend him to your indulgence, [I do not mind that he has no good] that R. M. —(?) I have no doubt that it will be fun and must be recieved with honor and that Victor wanted to congratualate [you/him] on [playing the work of a friend] the cassation [is?] a play [of] honor receive and —(?)
—(?) good endorser(?)
— servant Victor Hugo]
Permettez-moi, monsieur, on s’appelle a M[onsieur] Jomenir(?) mon nom que(?) Victor avez sans doute oublié, et se réclame pour mon ami cette bien et —(?) —(?) a —(?) il veux(?) en dans d’a–(?) les jouerez sons. M. H. Remard, qui vous remettrez a biller, eut musee(?) d’une —(?) ou Freiligrath qu’ils ont les a l’odéon sons(?) pour de jouer. Veux serez aux(?) de(?) juger(?). Il desire que je le recommande(?) a vous(?) indulgence, je veux aises(?) qu’il n’a bonnie que R. M(?) jusrien(?). Je ne doute(?) pas que se plaisir(?) et(?) d’out(?) reçu avec honneur et que Victor a veut(?) Felicitez en jouer d’ami œuvre(?) la cassation(?) a une jouee(?) honneur on recu et de(?) —(?)
V—(?) bien(?) endosseur(?)
d’écuré(?) serviteur(?)
Victor Hugo
Translation Attempt:
[Allow me, sir, we are called Mr. Somenir(?), my name that Victor has no doubt forgotten and claims for my firend this well and —(?). Mr. H. Remard, who will give you back a bill, and —(?) of a — or Freiligrath, that they [have at] the Odeon — sounds for to play. You will be the judge(?). He desires that I reccomend him to your indulgence, [I do not mind that he has no good] that R. M. —(?) I have no doubt that it will be fun and must be recieved with honor and that Victor wanted to congratualate [you/him] on [playing the work of a friend] the cassation [is?] a play [of] honor receive and —(?)
—(?) good endorser(?)
— servant Victor Hugo]
Creator
- Hugo, Victor, 1802-1885 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu