Hernani by Victor Hugo

Hernani is a significant 19th century French play of major historical import. When thinking of Hernani and its impact on French theatre and society, I think of Wells’ Citizen Kane, Coppolla’s Apocalypse Now, Scorcese’s Taxi Driver, and (arguably) De Palma’s Scarface … it’s just that kind of play. 


Hugo, who went on to pen Les Miserables, staged Hernani in 1830, unclogging a French Theatre constipated by Classicists like Racine and Corneille. Using common terms like mouchoire (handkerchief), Hugo and his loud horde of Romantics terrorized the Classicists. Fights broke out at performances as the audience polarized between the young Hugo and the old guard of French theatre. La Battaille d’Hernani on the 25th of February, 1830 is still studied in drama, theatre, and French literature programs worldwide.