For most of his life Victor Hugo (1802-1885) was the most famous writer in the world. His legacy includes the nineteenth century s most celebrated works of drama fiction memoir and criticism. But in his day Hugo was know foremost as a poet-indeed the greatest French poet of the age. He wrote with passion about history erotic experience familial love philosophy nature social justice art and mysticism. In this new bicentennial edition acclaimed poet and translator Brooks Haxton offers an exquisite selection of Hugo s finest work: love poems historical tableaux elegy and idyll including his incomparable Boaz Asleep which Marcel Proust praised as the most beautiful poem of the nineteenth century. For more than seventy years Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1 700 titles Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.