"They are killing a nation": How Victor Hugo, author of "Les Misérables", defended Serbia and accused Europe of indifference
Victor Hugo (1802–1885) was one of the most dominant figures in 19th-century European literature. As a master novelist and, above all, the moral conscience of his time, he could not remain silent in the face of injustice.
TL;DR
- Victor Hugo, a prominent 19th-century European writer, published an open letter titled "For Serbia" on August 30, 1876.
- The letter strongly condemned the Ottoman Empire's actions against Serbia and criticized European governments for their inaction and indifference.
- Hugo described the horrific atrocities, including the near-total destruction of Aleksinac (referred to as Balak), and compared the situation to a new "Middle Ages" imposed by Turkey.
- He famously stated, "Civilization is in the peoples, barbarism is in the governments."
- The letter urged European powers to move beyond mere regret and take concrete action, questioning their honor for allowing such violence.
- Hugo's powerful words called for unity and the protection of human rights, aiming to mobilize public opinion against the bloodshed.