PHOTO | The love of a tyrant: He treated her like a dog, kept her locked up for 50 years, did not even come to her funeral

Viktor Igo / Photo: Profimedia

Victor Hugo he was remembered as one of the most important French writers and the author of immortal works that we still enjoy reading. Among his most famous works are "The Bell Ringer of the Church of the Virgin Mary", "Wretches" and "The Laughing Man", which left a great mark on world literature.

Victor Hugo photographed by Etienne Caryat, 1876 / Photo: Profimedia

She was one of the first people to read his novels Juliet Drouet, who copied all his manuscripts for 50 years, and was so poor that she could not even buy a new dress.

This is her story…

The writer and his beloved

"When a woman walks past you and takes your breath away with her appearance and the way she walks, you are lost, you are in love. At that moment there is only one thing you can do – to think so intensely about her that she will be forced to think about you" - Victor Hugo once said about Juliet.

Portrait of Juliet Drouet/Photo: Profimedia

Victor and Juliet met when she was 27, while reading one of his novels in which she had a small role.

Juliet was born as Julien Josephine Guvan, in the family of a tailor father and a mother who worked as a housewife and maid in other people's homes. Her mother died just months after giving birth to Juliet, and her father a year later. She was raised by her uncle who encouraged her to read and write poetry, and Juliet listened to her and enjoyed the books.

In 1825, she met the sculptor James Pradier, an artist who was not a supporter of marriage, and in the relationship Juliet gave birth to his illegitimate daughter Claire. In 1829, Juliet began her career as an actress and began living as a courtesan (mistress of rich men).

Victor Hugo was fascinated by her from the moment he saw her, but was ashamed to admit it because of the life she led. Juliet's only income was from rich lovers, and she spent that money lavishly only on herself. But she fell in love with Victor and left the theater, the debauched life and her lovers.

Juliet Drue Salon / Profimedia

From wealth to poverty

Hugo was rich and powerful, but he did not want to spend the money on Juliet, because he despised courtesans. He forbade her to communicate with other people and she was not allowed to leave the house without his permission. He was married to another woman at the time and did not want to leave the family, but he did not want to leave Juliet either. He asked her if she wanted to be his secretary and copy all his works.

Obsessed with jealousy and her previous life, his love often turned into tyranny. He acted like he owned her. She did not object and was ready to do anything for him.

With the wealthy writer practically holding her prisoner, she had to sell her personal belongings to repay her debts. To save money, she sometimes did not light a fire during the winter, and if it was too cold, she stayed under the quilt all day. Igo never let her buy anything new.

Although he was madly in love with Juliet, Hugo did not forget his wife Anne and his children. He gave them all the luxury, and he himself lived very lavishly, unlike Juliet.

Victor Hugo's family / Profimedia

The love of a tyrant

When he would finally let her go with him on a visit, she would wait for him like a faithful dog in the car or in a corner. In some letters that have been preserved, Juliet wrote to him:

"Thank you for treating me like a stray dog ​​and being very cruel to me."

After 10 years, her beauty disappeared. She considered herself unattractive, but she continued to please Hugo and told him that he had not aged a day, that he was still charming and attractive. She looked at him with equally lovable eyes, just like the first day.

Juliet Druet / Photo: Profimedia

In 1851, Juliet received disturbing news – her lover's new lover sent her his letters and revealed that he was now in love with her. These were the same letters that he sent to Juliet and which were the only source of happiness for her in the past 18 years.

Hugo had hundreds of lovers. In fact, he is believed to have slept with as many as 200 women over the course of two years. He knew how to wake up next to an "easy woman", to enjoy the afternoon with a dancer, and in the evening to see a lady from noble society.

Despite everything, Juliet loved him. She eventually got cancer and realized that her life was coming to an end, but she didn't want to upset Victor with that. She died at the age of 77, completely alone.

The writer did not show up at her funeral because he was worried about what people would think if they saw him there. He died two years later, at the age of 83. As many as two million people came to his funeral.

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