William Shakespeare

by Victor Hugo

Translation: Nottingham Society. 1907

Table of Contents
Preface

Part I -- Book I:
His Life

Chapter 1 - p. 1
Chapter 2 - p. 4
Chapter 3 - p. 5
Chapter 4 - p. 18
Chapter 5 - p. 21

Part I -- Book II:
Men of Genius

Chapter 1 - p. 23
Chapter 2 - p. 26
Chapter 3 - p. 57
Chapter 4 - p. 58
Chapter 5 - p. 64

Part I -- Book III:
Art and Science

Chapter 1 - p. 66
Chapter 2 - p. 69
Chapter 3 - p. 70
Chapter 4 - p. 73
Chapter 5 - p. 83

Part I -- Book IV:
The Ancient Shakespeare

Chapter 1 - p. 86
Chapter 2 - p. 89
Chapter 3 - p. 93
Chapter 4 - p. 96
Chapter 5 - p. 99
Chapter 6 - p. 101
Chapter 7 - p. 104
Chapter 8 - p. 109
Chapter 9 - p. 113
Chapter 10 - p. 117

Part I -- Book V:
The Souls

Chapter 1 - p. 122
Chapter 2 - p. 131

Part II -- Book I:
Shakespeare-His Genius

Chapter 1 - p. 134
Chapter 2 - p. 138
Chapter 3 - p. 144
Chapter 4 - p. 145
Chapter 5 - p. 150

Part II -- Book II:
Shakespeare-His Work-The Culminating Points

Chapter 1 - p. 156
Chapter 2 - p. 159
Chapter 3 - p. 162
Chapter 4 - p. 164
Chapter 5 - p. 167
Chapter 6 - p. 171

Part II -- Book III:
Zoilus as Eternal as Homer

Chapter 1 - p. 179
Chapter 2 - p. 182
Chapter 3 - p. 185
Chapter 4 - p. 188
Chapter 5 - p. 189
Chapter 6 - p. 193

Part II -- Book IV:
Criticism

Chapter 1 - p. 198
Chapter 2 - p. 200
Chapter 3 - p. 202
Chapter 4 - p. 204
Chapter 5 - p. 206
Chapter 6 - p. 208

Part II -- Book V:
The Minds and the Masses

Chapter 1 - p. 213
Chapter 2 - p. 214
Chapter 3 - p. 216
Chapter 4 - p. 218
Chapter 5 - p. 219
Chapter 6 - p. 221
Chapter 7 - p. 222
Chapter 8 - p. 224

Part II -- Book VI:
The Beautiful the Servant of the True

Chapter 1 - p. 227
Chapter 2 - p. 233
Chapter 3 - p. 236
Chapter 4 - p. 238
Chapter 5 - p. 241

Part III -- Book I:
After Death-Shakespeare-England

Chapter 1 - p. 247
Chapter 2 - p. 252
Chapter 3 - p. 257
Chapter 4 - p. 262
Chapter 5 - p. 264
Chapter 6 - p. 267

Part III -- Book II:
The Nineteenth Century

Chapter 1 - p. 269

Part III -- Book III:
True History-Every One Put in His Right Place

Chapter 1 - p. 280
Chapter 2 - p. 284
Chapter 3 - p. 288
Chapter 4 - p. 297
Chapter 5 - p. 303

NOTE: Part II Book V: The Minds and the Masses, and Part III Book II: The Nineteenth Century have often been combined together and published under the title "The Minds and the Masses". An example of this format can be seen here. The text for these chapters currently has been taken directly from this source. Spot checks have suggested it is the same translation, but I have not yet verified it is exactly identical. This caveat will ultimately be corrected.

...please be patient

Preface

The true title of this work should be, "Apropos to Shakespeare." The desire of introducing, as they say in England, before the public, the new translation of Shakespeare, has been the first motive of the author. The feeling which interests him so profoundly in the translator should not deprive him of the right to recommend the translation. However, his conscience has been solicited on the other part, and in a more binding way still, by the subject itself. In reference to Shakespeare all questions which touch art are presented to his mind. To treat these questions, is to explain the mission of art; to treat these questions, is to explain the duty of human thought toward man. Such an occasion for speaking truths imposes a duty, and he is not permitted, above all at such an epoch as ours, to evade it. The author has comprehended this. He has not hesitated to turn the complex questions of art and civilisation on their several faces, multiplaying the horizons every time that the perspective has displaced itself, and accepting every indication that the subject, in its rigorous necessity, has offered to him. This expansion of the point of view has given rise to this book.

Hauteville House, 1864.

Note: The 'new translation' of Shakespeare references a translation published by Hugo's son, Francois Victor Hugo. This work was originally intended to serve as an introduction, but it became too long, and Hugo published it separately, and wrote another introduction for his son's work.