Victor HUGO is delighted with the success of “La Légende des Siècles”.

Victor HUGO (1802.1885)

Autograph letter to Noël parfait, in Brussels.   

Two ½ in-8° pages. Autograph address, stamp and postmarks.

Hauteville house. November 8 and 10 [1859]

“I believe that this book will have something of the fortune of ND de Paris. »

Important letter from the poet relating to the recent publication of his first collection of The Legend of the Centuries . The first series The Legend of the Centuries, published at the end of September 1859, unleashed criticism and admiration throughout Europe. Of the first, Hugo ignores: “ For thirty years, I have not read a word […] of what has been written against me” and shamelessly sends the opposition press to the water closets of Guernsey. He rejoices in the admiration, congratulating himself on the publishing success of his work: “ four thousand copies sold in one month in Paris, the edition already sold out, that's good. I believe that this book will have something of the fortune of ND de Paris . »

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“I recognize on a tape the writing of your good and dear hand; I open and find on this tape a Catholic gibberish called the Deaf of Brussels. Don't send me any more of these things. For thirty years, I have not read a word (those who see me closely know) of what has been written against me . Not a Planche, not a Veuillot, not a Caro, not even a Barbet, had the joy of saying that they had me as a reader. I have other things to do, life is short ; the few minutes that I have available outside of the work which is my function and my duty, I reserve them for my friends; As for my enemies, I have nothing for them, I don't even have to give them time for a smile of disdain .

Charles [Charles Hugo, his son] read three lines of the said Belgian clerical scrawl, then decimated it in the water closet, without opposition from me. I just said to him: wherever you want .

10 9 ^ber . – This had been written two days ago when I received from you, oh dear and charming friend, another newspaper from Brussels , another Catholic outcry. This one in the Universal signed M. This capital letter was by right in the water closet ; like the other and it goes without saying that neither I, nor anyone from here, have read anything about it. If I had been Voltaire, I would have, without anger, blown my nose with Nonotte and wiped myself with Patouillet. ^*

What I thank you for, dear Perfect, is for your letter in which you have put all your good and charming soul. Besides, the news is good: four thousand copies [of the Legend of the Centuries ] sold in one month in Paris, the edition already sold out, that's good. I believe that this book will have something of the fortune of ND de Paris .

Don't worry about the Independent Review , information taken, it's a classic doctrinaire farrage, written in Anglo-French, printed in London, read nowhere.

Emile Allix has arrived. This means that I received everything: copies from Paris and Belgian copies! – Thank you for inquiring whether those in London had theirs. – By the way , did [Désiré] Bancel get his? And Frédérix? and Van Hasselt? Allix tells me that the honorable Proudhon, former partner in the chess game of [?] this quasi-approver of December 2, is unleashed against The Legend of the Centuries . Needless to say. This brave man is the Chrysale of pot-bellied socialism. He adores Boileau and is right. Along with the letter for Hetzel, I am sending you one for Deschanel and one for Mr. Gruson. Would you like to take care of it? to you – deeply. »

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^* Claude Adrien Nonnotte (1711-1793), author of Voltaire's Errors, and Louis Patouillet (1699-1779): “He is more famous for Voltaire's sarcasms than for his writings”.

Former Jacques Martin Collection.