Victor Hugo Lecture

The Victor Hugo in Guernsey Society is pleased to present an exclusive evening with Professor Florence Naugrette of Sorbonne-Université, one of the world’s leading authorities on French literature, as she explores the depths of Victor Hugo’s Les Contemplations—a poetic masterpiece that continues to shape the literary world.

The lecture, entitled ‘Victor Hugo’s Les Contemplations: a poetic album?’, will take place on Friday, 23 May at 7:30 PM at Elizabeth College, Guernsey. This special event promises to be both enlightening and accessible, offering fresh insight into Hugo’s celebrated 1856 poetry collection, considered a cornerstone of 19th-century French literature.

Published in Guernsey during Hugo’s political exile, Les Contemplations spans 25 years of the poet’s life and comprises 158 deeply personal poems. Often seen as Hugo’s poetic autobiography, the collection captures his journey from youthful exuberance to devastating grief, particularly following the tragic death of his daughter Léopoldine in 1843, and ultimately, to spiritual reflection.

Professor Naugrette will guide the audience through Hugo’s innovative use of memory, mourning, and metaphysics in verse, revealing how Les Contemplations serves not just as literature, but as a “scrapbook of the soul,” dedicated to loved ones both living and lost.

The lecture will be delivered in English and will last approximately 45 minutes, followed by questions and discussion.

Admission:

• Adults: £11.25
• Free for children and full-time students
• Tickets available via Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com/e/1339551327079