The History of a Crime

<p><I>The History of a Crime</I> (1877) is a book-length essay by Victor Hugo. While Hugo is famous today for his status as a leading French poet and novelist of the nineteenth century he was also a gifted historian and memoirist who served on the National Assembly of the Second Republic. Following the coup d'état of Napoleon III in 1851 Hugo was among the insurrectionists who revolted against military forces on the streets of Paris. Despite their efforts the coup was successful leading to Hugo's exile until 1870. To outrage Right to suppress the Assembly to abolish the Constitution to strangle the Republic to overthrow the Nation to sully the Flag to dishonor the Army to suborn the Clergy and the Magistracy to succeed to triumph to govern to administer to exile to banish to transport to ruin to assassinate to reign with such complicities that the law at last resembles a foul bed of corruption. What! All these enormities were to be committed! And by whom? The French Second Republic was already in danger when Napoleon III was elected President of France in 1848. A populist he was in constant conflict with the National Assembly and nearing the end of his term sought to seek reelection through constitutional change. When this avenue was denied he began preparations for Operation Rubicon a secret plan to conduct a coup d'état with the help of the Army and other high-ranking officials. On December 2nd 1851 the anniversary of his uncle Napoleon Bonaparte's coronation and victory at Austerlitz the coup took place. Hugo a National Assembly member took to the streets of Paris with thousands of his fellow insurrectionaries many of whom were beaten arrested and murdered for their actions. Despite their efforts the coup was successful leading to the reestablishment of the French Empire in 1852. Hugo's essay-part history part memoir-is a brilliant retelling of one of democracy's darkest moments. This edition of Victor Hugo's <I>The History of a Crime</I> is a classic work of French literature reimagined for modern readers.</p> <p>Since our inception in 2020 <b>Mint Editions</b> has kept sustainability and innovation at the forefront of our mission. Each and every Mint Edition title gets a fresh professionally typeset manuscript and a dazzling new cover all while maintaining the integrity of the original book.</p> <p>With thousands of titles in our collection we aim to spotlight diverse public domain works to help them find modern audiences. Mint Editions celebrates a breadth of literary works curated from both canonical and overlooked classics from writers around the globe.</p>