La Esmeralda

Name: La Esmeralda
Author: Victor Hugo

By Victor Hugo

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French Literature Plays/Films/Dramas

About This Book

The libretto condenses a larger romantic-historical drama into an operatic framework, reshaping actions and characters to suit musical demands. It centers on a young dancer whose beauty and vulnerability provoke obsessive desire from a conflicted cleric and elicit protective attachment from a physically deformed bell-ringer; rival affections, street gangs, and social authorities collide in processions, choruses, and tableaux that move toward a tragic resolution. The piece foregrounds spectacle and heightened emotion while exploring otherness, desire, and the tensions between private passion and public order.

About the Author

Victor Hugo

Victor Hugo (1802-1885) was a prominent French writer, poet, and playwright, known for his significant contributions to literature and social justice. His most famous work, "Les Misérables," explores themes of redemption and the struggles of the poor in 19th-century France. Hugo's literary career spanned various genres, including novels, poetry, and essays, with notable works such as "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame" and "Ninety-Three." He was also an outspoken advocate for human rights and political reform, using his platform to address social issues of his time. Hugo's legacy endures as a key figure in the Romantic literary movement, influencing generations of writers and thinkers.