Ninety-Three

Ninety-Three was Hugo’s last full-length novel and it covers a topic which the author had been reluctant to depict until late in life: the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror. As an ardent republican, this was a difficult subject for Hugo, requiring him to find a way to promote the ideals of republicanism and the Revolution while condemning many of the methods used by Robespierre, Danton, Marat, and their confederates. In the end, Hugo struck an admirable balance, creating a work that is sweeping in scope, thought provoking, and heartbreaking.