Victor Hugo, author of Les Miserables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, died May 22, 1885. He was 83.

Hugo was born February 26, 1802 in Besancon, France. As a child, he accompanied his father who was a general with Napoleon. Hugo displayed a talent for writing, and began to have success as a poet and novelist at a young age.

The French Academy published one of his poems in 1817 when Hugo was 15. In 1822, a volume of poetry entitled Miscellaneous Odes and Poems was published. The same year he married his childhood sweetheart, Adele Foucher.

Hugo was considered one of the greatest romantic poets and novelists of all time. But his early writings brought criticism from censors who banned his dramatic work Marion de Lorme, an 1829 work about the life of a 17th century courtesan.

Hugo continued to harangue the censors by writing more risqué dramas, including Hernani in 1830 which brought popular success when Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi adapted it to his opera Ernani in 1844.

The period from 1829-43 was Hugo’s most productive as a writer. He wrote The Hunchback of Notre Dame in 1831. Its success brought about his election to the French Academy. During this time, he wrote several volumes of poetry and continued to write dramas which were adapted by Verdi and other composers into operas.

The year 1843 proved to be a turning point for Hugo. The disappointment over the reception of his novel, The Governors, and the death of his daughter and son-in-law caused him to turn to politics.

In 1845, he associated himself with King Louis Philippe. An unsuccessful attempt to oust President Louis Napoleon in 1851 caused Hugo to exile himself to the island of Guernsey, where he spent 15 years.

The exile proved beneficial to Hugo’s literary career. He wrote several satirical poems, and completed work on his most famous novel, Les Miserables in 1862. The book is an account of the social injustices in 19th century France.

Hugo returned to France in 1870. He again became active in politics, serving in both the National Assembly and Senate.

He continued to write during his last 15 years. Two of his more famous works during this time were Ninety-three, an 1874 novel about the French Revolution, and a volume of poems about his family life.

Hugo died in Paris on May 22, 1885. His body lay in state under the Arch of Triumph, and was later buried in the Pantheon.