The Man Who Laughs, 1869
Original title: L'Homme Qui Rit
After Toilers of the Sea, Hugo planned a series of novels about aristocracy, monarchy and democracy. The first one, dealing with aristocracy, reached the bookshops of Paris in April 1869. The Man Who Laughs had taken him 15 months to write. When the draft had been presented to the publisher Lacroix, the working title had been 'On the King's Command' but Hugo's friends later suggested the final title.
It was an historic novel with fictional characters, set in England 1688-1705. Unlike Scott or Dumas, Hugo considered the great men of history fit to serve as background only - the invented persons were Hugo's concern and focus.
The Man Who Laughs was not as successful as Hugo's previous novels had been. Lacroix was a bit too commercial in his marketing efforts and the reading audience had grown accustomed to the everyday-thrills provided by the naturalistic authors. Victor Hugo himself made a note on the increasing distance between him and his contemporaries.