The Man Who Laughs: A Romance of English History

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hugo, Victor, 1802-1885

Standardized Title:

L'homme qui rit. English

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"The Man Who Laughs: A Romance of English History" by Victor Hugo is a novel written in the late 19th century. This work intricately blends themes of social injustice and political critique set against the backdrop of English history. The story primarily revolves around a central character, Gwynplaine, who suffers physical disfigurement at the hands of cruel society, suggesting a deeper commentary on the nature of humanity and the conditions of the marginalized. The opening of the book introduces us to Ursus, a philosopher and juggler who travels with his companion, Homo, a domesticated wolf. Together, they perform for the public while living a nomadic life. The story quickly establishes a sense of loneliness and abandonment, particularly through the child protagonist, who is left behind when a group of ragged individuals sails away in a vessel after what appears to be an urgent departure. This child, revealed as a victim of circumstance, faces the harsh realities of solitude and survival, setting the stage for a gripping narrative that promises to explore themes of suffering, identity, and resilience in the face of a brutal world. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Steven desJardins and Project Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders

Notes:

Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_Who_Laughs

Reading ease score: 82.8 (6th grade). Easy to read.

Translation of: L'homme Qui Rit

Release date is 2004-06-01