Book summary: The Last Day of a Condemned Man
July 2, 2022 by Mylene in Book summary
Victor Hugo fought all his life against the death penalty. Through his novels, Hugo wanted to enlighten French society. This novel, the last day of a condemned man, is a real indictment against capital punishment. While the book was published in 1829, the death penalty was abolished only in 1981 in France. If you’re looking to read a book by Victor Hugo, the last day of a condemned man is an ideal short novel to start with.
About the book
- Title: The Last Day of a Condemned Man
- Publication date: 1829
- Author: Victor Hugo
- Genre: novel, fiction
- Level of Difficulty for French learners: 2/5
The last day of a condemned man: a summary
Victor Hugo was only 27 years old when he published this short novel, whose main character has no name. We don’t know anything about his crime, but we know that in six weeks he will be guillotined.
This novel invites the readers to share the moods of a condemned man who is living without a future and consequently, experiencing psychological torture. The condemned man goes through different kinds of feelings: from suffering to panic, but also hopes in his last moments for a miraculous royal pardon. Not only Victor Hugo condemns the death penalty, but also the people who transform a tragic experience into a spectacle. People could pay to watch the condemned in their dungeon and take the best seats to watch their executions.
Victor Hugo tells us nothing about the condemned man’s crime, the goal isn’t to justify the execution. In a way, this choice allows transforming the condemned man into the representative of all convicts, either guilty or innocent. This story reminds the readers that one day we’ll face death. Some might express fear, but we do not know the exact date of our death. This isn’t the case with the condemned man, who already knows the date of his execution. A sure thing to increase claustrophobia.
Favorite quote from the book
“[en parlant de la guillotine] Et puis, on ne souffre pas, en sont-ils sûrs ? Qui le leur a dit ? Conte-t-on que jamais une tête coupée se soit dressée sanglante au bord du panier, et qu’elle ait crié au peuple : Cela ne fait pas de mal.”
Hugo, Victor. Le dernier jour d’un condamné
Book to read and reread without getting bored! To discover another short novel in which the condemned man tells his story, I invite you to continue reading by reading Claude Gueux.
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