Tag Archives: Victor Hugo

RKS French Literature: Louis XI and His Manipulative Physician (Victor Hugo)

While feeling the king’s pulse Coictier assumed a look of greater and greater alarm. Louis XI watched him some anxiety. Coictier grew visibly more gloomy. The king’s bad health was the worthy man’s only farm. He made the most of it. Victor Hugo, “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame”

RKS French Literature: The Hellish Passion of the Archdeacon for Esmeralda (Victor Hugo)

And, as he thus sifted his soul to the bottom, when he perceived how large a space Nature had prepared there for the passions, he sneered more bitterly still. He stirred up in the depths of his heart all his hatred, all his malevolence, and he discovered with the cool eye of physician examining aContinue reading “RKS French Literature: The Hellish Passion of the Archdeacon for Esmeralda (Victor Hugo)”

RKS French Literature: Parisians Accustomed to Public Torture and Hangings (Victor Hugo)

There was then no Gazette des Tribunaux; and as hardly a week passed in which there was not some counterfeiter to boil, some witch to hang, or some heretic to burn, at some of the numberless justices of Paris. People were so much accustomed to see at every crossway the ancient feudal Themis, bare armed,Continue reading “RKS French Literature: Parisians Accustomed to Public Torture and Hangings (Victor Hugo)”

RKS French Literature: Hanging Justice (Victor Hugo)

Justice in those days cared little about clearness and precision in the proceedings against a criminal. Provided only that the accused was hung, that was all that was necessary. Victor Hugo, “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame”

RKS French Literature: The Archdeacon Reveals His Mad Passion for Esmeralda the Beautiful Gypsy (Victor Hugo)

Oh! to love a woman – to be a priest – to be hated – to love her with all the fury of your soul – to feel that you would give for the least of her smiles your blood, your vitals, your reputation, your salvation, immortality and eternity and the other – to regretContinue reading “RKS French Literature: The Archdeacon Reveals His Mad Passion for Esmeralda the Beautiful Gypsy (Victor Hugo)”

RKS French Literature: The Pillory to the Tavern then the Gallows (Victor Hugo)

‘Jehan, you are on a very slippery, downward path; know wither you are going?’ ‘To the tavern,’ said Jehan. ‘The tavern leads to the pillory.’ ‘Tis a lantern like any other, and ‘twas perhaps the one with which Diogenes found his man.’ ‘The gallows is a balance which has a man at one end andContinue reading “RKS French Literature: The Pillory to the Tavern then the Gallows (Victor Hugo)”

RKS French Literature: Captain Phoebus de Chateaupers: Of Noble Birth but of Vulgar Tastes (Victor Hugo)

…the prospect of an approaching marriage grew less attractive to him each day. Besides, he was of fickle disposition, and if the truth must be told, rather vulgar in his tastes. Although of noble birth, he had contracted, under his officer’s accoutrements, more than one of the habits of the common soldier. He delighted inContinue reading “RKS French Literature: Captain Phoebus de Chateaupers: Of Noble Birth but of Vulgar Tastes (Victor Hugo)”

RKS French Literature: Quasimodo Generally Hated (Victor Hugo)

We have already shown that Quasimodo was generally hated – for more than one good reason, it is true. There was hardly a spectator among the crowd but either had or thought he had some cause or complaint against the malevolent hunchback of Notre-Dame. The joy at seeing him appear thus in the pillory hadContinue reading “RKS French Literature: Quasimodo Generally Hated (Victor Hugo)”

RKS French Literature: Quasimodo and the Bells of Notre Dame (Victor Hugo)

This was the only speech that he could hear, the only sound that broke for him the universal silence. He expanded in it, like a bird in the sunshine. All at once the frenzy of the bell would seize him, his look became wild – he lay in wait for the great bell as aContinue reading “RKS French Literature: Quasimodo and the Bells of Notre Dame (Victor Hugo)”

RKS French Literature: Quasimodo and Notre Dame Cathedral as One (Victor Hugo)

Thus it was that his being, gradually unfolding, took its mould from the cathedral – living there – sleeping there – scarcely ever going out of it – receiving every hour its mysterious impress – he came at length to resemble it, to be fashioned like it, to make an integral part of it. HeContinue reading “RKS French Literature: Quasimodo and Notre Dame Cathedral as One (Victor Hugo)”