On the World as a Stage

“All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances;” — Shakespeare “As You Like It” “There are such curtains which drop down in life. God is passing to the next act.” — Victor Hugo “Les Misérables” The notion that the world is a stage didn’t originate with Shakespeare. Many ancient Greeks and Romans recognized their roles and played them […]

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“The Man Who Laughs” by Victor Hugo

[Also published under the title: By Order of the King] “I returned and saw under the sun that— The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all.” Synopsis This book reminded me of the movie “On the Waterfront“, especially the famous […]

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“Notre-Dame de Paris” by Victor Hugo

Historian, Philosopher and Poet If I can quote one passage from Hugo’s books that best reflects the author, the focus of his passions, the style and architecture of his novels, it would be the following: “There he was, serious, motionless, absorbed — all eye, all ear, all thought. All Paris was at his feet, with the thousand spires of its buildings, and its circular horizon of gentle hills, with its […]

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“The Last Day of a Condemned Man” by Victor Hugo

This book is not an enjoyable read, not in the usual sense of the word. In fact, it caused me mental and physical discomfort, if not downright pain. The only other book that had a similar effect is Tolstoy’s “The Death of Ivan Ilyich”. These two books capture the last agonies of two men condemned to death, one by a terminal disease, the other by the death penalty, a social disease. […]

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“The Toilers of the Sea” by Victor Hugo

Dear reader, how would you react if someone you respect were to show you that one of your friends, whom you’ve liked and trusted for many years, is in fact a coward, hypocrite, backstabber, rapist and murderer? Troubled, offended, confused, shocked, sad? That was my reaction when I read this book. That someone is Victor Hugo, and that friend of mine is the Ocean. Introduction Growing up on the coast, […]

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“Ninety-Three” by Victor Hugo

Synopsis “Ninety-Three” reminds me of “Iliad” and “The Trial and Death of Socrates“. There’re memorable adventures and battles at sea, a ferocious siege that leads to a battle to the death, and finally, in the face of death, a contemplation of meaning, duty, freedom and destiny. Echoes of these contemplations are found in Tolstoy’s “War and Peace”, especially the Epilogue. If you’ve read “Les Misérables”, you would notice the year 93 […]

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“Les Misérables” by Victor Hugo

In his book “What is Art”, Tolstoy gives a few “examples of the highest art”. “Les Misérables” is one of them. “Les Misérables” is not so much a novel as an immense commentary of the world, of society, human nature, religion, history, revolution and progress, the Infinite and the minute, the beautiful and the ugly, the wise and the stupid, the noble and the base, sufferings and triumphs, love and […]

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