My Beloved Toto

by Juliette Drouet

Published 6 October 2005
My Beloved Toto, a collection of letters written by Juliette Drouet to her lover, Victor Hugo, tells the story of a life and of the great love affair that shaped it. From 1833 until her death half a century later, Drouet wrote to Hugo twice daily on average, resulting in thousands of letters. The 186 translated here—most appearing in English for the first time—offer insights into nineteenth-century French culture as well as an insider's look at the character, behavior, working habits, and day-to-day life of France's most monumental man of letters.