Tuesday 9 March 2010

ABC Wednesday, H for Hauteville House. Victor Hugo

With thanks to Denise Nesbitt, who created ABC.For more interesting ABC posts click on the logo in the sidebar or Here. This week we are looking for words beginning with H.

Victor HUGO was born in 1802 in Besançon and lived in France for the majority of his life. However, he was forced into exile during the reign of Napoleon III — he lived briefly in Brussels during 1851; in Jersey from 1852 to 1855; and in Guernsey from 1855 to 1870 and again in 1872-1873. There was a general amnesty in 1859; after that, his exile was by choice. Victor HUGO, who was the author of "Les Misérables, and " Notre Dame de Paris" ( The HUNCHBACK of Notre Dame) was a French poet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France. He died on 22 May 1885.






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The interior of the HAUTEVILLE HOUSE is from floor to ceiling decorated with a lot of wood work carved by highly skilled wood engravers of the island. Victor HUGO, himself, often made the designs for the wooden panels, the wall paintings and the tapestries on the walls. He bought old furniture, which he dismantled and used for decoration. He had old doors carved and used them as the tops of tables. The house is a unique museum, and worth while seeing, whether you like the interior or not. From March 1862 on, a weekly meal was held in this house for deprived children. He started with twelve, but the number rose quickly to forty.

19 comments:

Vicki Lane said...

The studio is my favorite -- after the garden! Thank you for taking us on this tour, Reader Wil!

Miss_Yves said...

Merci de cette visite virtuelle qui me rappelle bien des souvenirs .
H comme Hugo: cette initiale est partout à Hauteville House !

Hugo , comme vous l'écrivez est non seulement un homme de lettres , mais un écrivain engagé, qui a défendu les droits de la femme, les droits de l'enfant (contre le travail des enfants ) et qui a combattu la peine de mort.
Il a aussi été un précurseur de l'Union européenne!

Sylvia K said...

What a wonderful tour, Wil! I, too, love the garden and the studio! Such a great post for the day! Have a wonderful week!

Sylvia

Vagabonde said...

Merci pour ce post qui m’a appris quelque chose de nouveau sur Victor Hugo. La maison est magnifique. J’aime surtout la bibliothcque – quels beaux livres il doit y avoir dans cette pièce.

anthonynorth said...

Great pics and a beautiful place, worthy of such an excellent author.

Christine H. said...

What an amazing house and a very interesting post.

Hildred said...

Beautiful home and garden - a wonderful choice for your H blog, Wil. As usual your slides are splendid.

Tumblewords: said...

An fascinating home. I had no idea he lived in such exquisite surroundings. I'd be happy in the Winter Garden with an occasional jaunt into the Red Drawing Room. Wonderful post!

LeAnn said...

That was really neat seeing the photo display!

Jeannette StG said...

The tapestries are beautiful and so is all the dark wood work! Thanks for sharing!

Etje said...

Prachtige rondleinding heb je ons hier weer gegeven

photowannabe said...

A beautiful place and wonderful tour of the home. I had no idea he was so multi-talented.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this interesting entry of yours. Providing as well nice memories, of the time I spend in Paris, comming by his grave.

A wonderful Wednesday for you.

Arkansas Patti said...

I love how I always learn when I come here. I knew nothing about Victor Hugo except for his writings which obviously paid quite well. Thank you for the lovely tour.

jay said...

He sounds like an interesting guy - I knew about the novels, but not about the furniture being used as decoration! An original!

Sheila @ A Postcard a Day said...

I would so much like to see Hauteville House! I did see his house in Paris years ago but this looks fantastic. I have to say, it was news to me that he had lived on Guernsey.

Roger Owen Green said...

Sad but true - I know more about Hugo's works from film adaptations rather than from actually reading him.


On behalf of the ABC Wednesday team, thank you! - Ramblin' with Roger

Etje said...

We zijn weer eens over de helft van deze week ,de tijd gaat toch snel he

Etje said...

Je hoeft dat voor mij niet in het Nederlands te schrijven hoor kan het zo ook lezen. Maar vorige keer was er iets aan mijn ogen en daarom heb ik toen die reactie geschreven.