Han of Iceland, 1823
Original title: Han d'Islande
Hugo started writing Han of Iceland in 1820 - at the age of 18, with the intention to publish it as a serial in Le Conservateur Littéraire. However, the paper was merged with Annales de la Littérature et des Arts in 1821 and the novel was shelved.
Having married Adèle and with her expecting the couple's first child, Hugo completed Han of Iceland in 1823 - the need for money was evident. Persan, who was contracted to print 1,000 copies, published it in four grey, cheap and anonymous volumes. But Hugo was paid only 500 francs in royalty - Persan went bankrupt.
It was received with mixed emotions; the writer's imagination and language was praised, but the spectacular Norwegian setting and the horrible details were questioned. The historic authenticity was non-existent, which Hugo admits with irony in the preface. In the publisher's preface of a Swedish 1830 edition, the unnamed translator explains:
It is not this translator's intention to expound on this novels aesthetic merits or faults - both almost tremendous by nature.
She then gives account for some obvious factual errors in the novel, explains why she has decided not to correct them, and concludes:
A genuine Genius addresses us and invites us to follow him; his path leads through dreary dungeons, over corpses, blocks, and his hero drinks human blood. Our hair stands on end, but so irresistible is this Genius' invitation, that we must follow, though frightful and almost against our own will.
Han of Iceland was in essence a representation of Hugo's love for Adèle, through the characters of Ethel and Ordener. English horror novels had clearly inspired it and some contemporary reviewers regarded it as an imitation of Walter Scott's writings. But it had unquestionable literary merits and was a remarkable début for such a young writer. And as much as it caused disgust in some people, it generated admiration in others. It was translated into English over twenty times during the 19th century. The first Swedish translation appeared in 1830 (see above) and the first Norwegian in 1831.
Gérard de Nerval adapted Han of Iceland for the stage in 1829. During the Hernani days, he could be found at a restaurant with a skull that had a handle fitted to it, ordering seawater - Han's favorite drink.
Notes:
I have seen two English titles for Han d'Islande: Han of Iceland and Hans of Iceland. Since Han is a name, I regard the title using it as correct. However, I have never come across the name Han in any of the Nordic countries, whereas the name Hans is fairly common in at least Sweden and Norway. If you respect Hugo's virtues, I guess you have to respect his faults too.