The Man Who Laughs: A Romance of English History
The Man Who Laughs, published in French in 1869 as L'Homme qui rit, is Victor Hugo's novel of England under Queen Anne. A boy abandoned on the Portland shore by the comprachicos, child-buyers who carved his face into a permanent grin, rescues a blind baby girl from the snow and is taken in by the misanthropic showman Ursus and his wolf Homo. Grown up, Gwynplaine and Dea travel England as a fairground act, in love, until a message in a bottle reveals that the clown is a lord, and the court, the Duchess Josiana and the schemer Barkilphedro reach out for him. Hugo's digressions on the English peerage are part of the design; the translator is not named. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The Man Who Laughs: A Romance of English History
The Man Who Laughs: A Romance of English History by Victor Hugo can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Man Who Laughs: A Romance of English History online?
Yes. The Man Who Laughs: A Romance of English History opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Man Who Laughs: A Romance of English History free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Man Who Laughs: A Romance of English History is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Man Who Laughs: A Romance of English History in the public domain?
Yes. The Man Who Laughs: A Romance of English History by Victor Hugo is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Man Who Laughs: A Romance of English History?
About 13 h 42 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Man Who Laughs: A Romance of English History?
The Man Who Laughs: A Romance of English History by Victor Hugo is filed under "Fiction" in the Vinteuil library.
