« It is indeed a fire that I would like to light, a fire of all hatreds, a fire of all angers, a fire of all regrets, a fire of all the generous feelings that are smoldering at this hour in the pile of ashes that is France. »
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Victor Hugo (1802.1885)
Autograph letter signed to Noël Parfait, at Alexandre Dumas's, in Brussels.
Three octavo pages on thin paper. Losses at the central fold without affecting the text.
Autographed address and postal cancellations.
Jersey. August 29, 1852.
« It is indeed a fire that I would like to light, a fire of all hatreds, a fire of all angers, a fire of all regrets, a fire of all the generous feelings that are smoldering at this hour in the pile of ashes that is France. »
Napoleon III invades Paris. From Jersey, his Anglo-Norman homeland, Victor Hugo rejoices to see his pamphlet against Napoleon III reach the homes of the capital. The great man intends to unleash the winds of revolt and liberty.
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Barthélémy ’s words charmed us. It is indeed a conflagration I wish to ignite, a conflagration of all hatreds, a conflagration of all angers, a conflagration of all regrets, a conflagration of all the generous sentiments that smolder at this hour in the heap of ashes that is France. Alas! When will the spark ignite!”
I'm getting some rather good news from Paris. Haynau [the Austrian general Julius Jacob von Haynau] is in Paris, and my article about him preceded him there. Copies have been printed in abundance. The Faubourg Saint-Antoine is a little stirred, I'm told. I'm even told it's very stirred . But I interpret "very" as a little. Let's be modest.
Our dear Dumas is in Turin. I receive letters from Paris saying that his serials about me are in high demand. I am eager to read them, and my entire group shares the same thirst. You will be most kind, dear Parfait, to have the volume or volumes I am missing sent to me in the same package in which Tarride will send my copies of Nap. le petit . Give them to him for that purpose.
What has become of you? What remains of the good diners of Boulevard Waterloo? Where are all the excellent friends, Courtier, [Armand] Bouquié, [Jules] Hetzel, [Gaspard de] Cherville? Shake their hands.
Write to me often, and at length. We read your letters as a family. My wife never tires of reading yours. Loving each other in exile is doubly precious.
Offer Madame Parfait and Mademoiselle Dumas [Marie Dumas, daughter of Alexandre] all my respects and our fondest memories. Have Charles and me bow before them. And then, may these ladies allow us to rise and embrace you. Tuus. Victor H.
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Two editions of Napoleon the Little were published almost simultaneously in Brussels and London, at the dawn of August 1852. The first (in small 12mo format) was intended for the Belgian and foreign market; the second (in 32mo format) was smaller and intended to be smuggled into France despite the ardent surveillance of the Napoleonic authorities.
The work was not published in France until the great man returned from exile, nearly twenty years later, by Hetzel et Cie , on the symbolic date of December 2, 1870.
* Barthélémy Terrier, a doctor and staunch republican, was outlawed in England for the entire duration of the Second Empire.