The Man Who Laughs
by Victor Hugo
"The Smiling Man" is a romantic masterpiece of the cruelty of a man whose face in childhood crippled a smiling mask, a faithful blind girl who gave him his heart, and a privileged aristocracy whose laughter and savior he becomes. it is notable for its emotional impact. But do not be deceived. The timeless metaphor of "Beauty and the Beast" has been reimagined here because the surfaces are misleading and not everything is as it seems. The slow, majestic wealth of defining details is, in itself, a reward for the reader looking for a delicious dive into the drama of history, but when coupled with the depth of human insight and a glimpse into the historical era and mentality, this is an eternal classic.
