کتاب The Essential Victor Hugo Original To the English I am shockingWhats more French which is disgusting republican which is abominable exiled which is repulsive defeated which is infamous To top it all off a poet  Victor Hugo dominated literary life in France for over half a century pouring forth novels poems plays and other writings with unflagging zest and vitality Here for the first time in English all aspects of his work are represented within a single volume Famous scenes from the novels NotreDame Les Misrables and The Toilers of the Sea are included as well as excerpts from his intimate diaries poems of love and loss and scathing denunciations of the political establishment All the chosen passages are selfcontained and can be enjoyed without any previous knowledge of Hugos work Much of the material is appearing in English for the first time and most of it has never before been annotated thoroughly in any language