Books Quote by Victor Hugo
““PREFACE TO THE 1832 EDITION At the head of the earlier editions of this work, published at first without the name of the author, there was nothing but the following lines. “There are two ways of accounting for the existence of this work. Either there really has been found a bundle of yellow, ragged, papers, on which were inscribed, exactly as they came, the last thoughts of a wretched being; or else there has been a man, a dreamer, occupied in observing nature for the advantage of art, a philosopher, a poet, who, having been seized with these forcible ideas, could not rest until he had given them the tangible form of a volume. Of these two explanations, the reader will choose that which he prefers.””
About This Quote
Source Preface: 1832 edition of Les Misérables, 1832
The author suggests two origins for the work: a discovered manuscript of a tormented mind or a deliberate creation by a visionary observer of nature for art's benefit.
In simple terms: Two possible origins: found manuscript or intentional creation.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the power of intentional creation.
Themes
authorship
creation
literature
Mood
reflective
curious
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- literary analysis
- creative writing
- historical research
Key Concepts
philosophy
artistic intent
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this duality reveal about the nature of artistic inspiration?
- How does acknowledging both origins affect our reading?
A Different Perspective
The work may be a blend of both discovery and intentional craft.
