On our last day in Paris, we visited Victor Hugo’s house. It is in the Marais district at the Place des Vosges, said to be one of the most symmetrical squares in any city. There was a small ticket counter but entry was free, though a printed ticket was still required and up the old grand staircase we went …
You may know Victor Hugo as the author of the novel Les Misérables, which became a modern-day popular musical. He was also the author of Notre-Dame de Paris (The Hunchback of Notre Dame) which was published in 1831 which also became a much-loved Disney cartoon feature. One consequence of the novel was to bring about the restoration of the cathedral which today is a “must-see” in the city of lights.
Victor Hugo lived here from 1832 to 1848. In the apartment are collections of drawings, paintings, and documents. There is a room filled with Chinese furniture and ornaments. There appears to be a “rigidity” about the household, but that was how people of means lived two centuries ago. Victor Hugo did not always live here for he later spent, due to his political views, several years in exile in Jersey, and finally settled with his family on the channel island of Guernsey.
After saying farewell to Victor Hugo, we went back to the flat we had rented, collected our luggage and boarded to Eurostar back to London. (Where we later strolled down Portobello Road and the house George Orwell lived! More about him in another post …)
12 responses so far ↓
Kak Teh // July 6, 2009 at 12:06 pm |
Tunku, this is such a strange coincidence. When I was there, I visited Bouzy – two hours drive out of Paris – and indeed from the name, the area where champagne is produced. We were out in the vineyard and was told by the owner of the vineyard, that further afield, was a house where Victor Hugo used to write his stories about the Hunchback of Notre Dame.
shahrul // July 7, 2009 at 3:36 am |
Did you get to see the place where he did his writing? Or did he even have such a place? Writers – being in such need of peace and quiet when fleshing out the words have always needed this personal space, thus I wonder.
Do you have your own, Tunku?
Andrea Whatever // July 8, 2009 at 3:05 am |
Tunku,
Apart from visiting the houses where these great writers resided, I love doing the “walks” ie visit the places and sites that were mentioned in their books, and try to feel /imagine/ see for myself the things that inspired them.
Over the years, I’ve done the Jane Austen “walk”, the Charles Dickens “walk” and the William Shakespeare “walk”. I hope to do the James Joyce “walk” one day.
kelly teh // July 8, 2009 at 2:49 pm |
Guess the world is always the same….i visited Beethovan and Mozart’ house …and you visited Victor Hugo’s house….so one’s interest always take them to the place they like. Hope you get more inspiration after the visit.
tunkuhalim // July 10, 2009 at 4:23 am |
Kak Teh – That is a coincidence. I wonder if Victor Hugo also enjoyed the champagne whilst he wrote his novels. I hope London isn’t too hot for you.
Shahrul – I saw his desk but other than that you wouldn’t know it’s a writer’s house. Yes, I’ve got my own space … what’s really needed is isolation!
Andrea – That sound very interesting and fun too. I wonder if you intend to do the Tunku Halim walk. It requires several visits to various graveyards around Malaysia.
Kelly – You’re so right. I do appreciate music too but I’d rather visit a writer’s home first. I haven’t had a chance to visit Dracula’s castle yet though!
Ariffa // July 12, 2009 at 2:28 pm |
Halim,
Do come to Guernsey and visit Victor Hugo’s house.
You will love it…a very spooky house….OOOOO!
tunkuhalim // July 12, 2009 at 11:03 pm |
Ariffa – Thanks for the invite. I must come some time to visit … especially since its spooky … which is really what gets me (and my pen) going!
Ariffa // July 13, 2009 at 7:02 am |
Halim,
Please do visit Guernsey.
There are 2 books which we so love you to read.. typical of Guernsey,
1. The Book of Ebenezer Le Page
2. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.
Please can we send them to you if you are interested?
tunkuhalim // July 14, 2009 at 8:19 am |
Ariffa – That’s so very kind and generous. But you, if you like, can give them to be in person when we meet in future. Thanks for the thought.
Ariffa // July 14, 2009 at 8:28 am |
We shall meet indeed..
Have ordered one of your books from Amazon..oh..to have a birthday everyday is just so great!!
Ridzwan Ariff // August 31, 2009 at 10:00 am |
GREAT READING
tunkuhalim // September 1, 2009 at 5:28 am |
Ariffa – Every day is a birthday!
Ridzwan – Glad you liked it!