HUGO VICTOR: (1802-1885) French Poet & Novelist of the Romantic Movement. A good A.L.S., Victor Hugo, one page, 8vo, Paris, 25^th June 1879, to a General, in French. Hugo states in part `Cher collègue et cher general, Mon serrement de main cherche le vôtre. Je suis heureux de votre bonheur. Nous serons charmés de voir Madame votre femme et Mademoiselle votre fille. Nous sommes, à ells et à vous, cher general, du fond du coeur…´ (“Dear colleague and dear General, My handshake seeks yours. I am happy for your happiness. We will be delighted to see Madame your wife and Mademoiselle your daughter. We are, to them and to you, dear General, with you from the bottom of our hearts...”) With blank integral leaf. Very small overall minor age wear, with few small ink stains. G to VG

 

The correspondent of Hugo´s letter is most probably François Gabriel Pittié (1829-1886) French General who participated at the Crimean war, at Sebastapol, where he was wounded twice. He was also later injured at the battle of Solferino. In 1879 he was appointed by French President Jules Grevy as chief of his military presidential house. This appointment is probably the reason for Hugo´s comment about their happiness. Hugo calls his correspondent colleague because Pittié published several literary works, tales, novels, poems, etc…