HUGO, Victor (1802-1885)

HUGO, Victor (1802-1885)

Autograph aphorism signed « Victor Hugo »
N.p.n.d.., 1/2 p. in-8° oblong
Fine condition throughout

Superb aphorism taken from his collection Les Feuilles d’automne, quintessence of the romantic spirit

« Rêver, c’est le bonheur ; attendre, c’est la vie
Victor Hugo »

Taken from the collection Les Feuilles d’automne published in 1831 by Ronduel, this verse is taken from poem XXVII, “To My Friends L.B. [Louis Boulanger] and S.-B. [Sainte-Beuve].” In 1830, Hugo and his family moved from rue Notre-Dame-des-Champs to rue Jean Goujon, in the Champs-Élysées district. Perhaps he was fleeing the proximity of Sainte-Beuve, who was too assiduous with Adèle. In any case, the latter took refuge with Ulric Guttinguer in Normandy, from where he continued to send highly elegiac letters to the poet’s wife. It was therefore by mistake that Hugo believed Sainte-Beuve to be in the company of Louis Boulanger at this time.