Victor Hugo spent 15 years in exile on the island of Guernsey after leaving France in the wake of the 1851 coup d’état. Initially, he sought refuge in Brussels, then in Jersey in 1852, before moving to Guernsey in 1855. There, he purchased Hauteville House in Saint-Pierre, a home that became the center of his life during his exile. The house, located between the sea and a garden filled with camellias, fuchsias, jasmine, and roses, was described by Hugo as "pieces of France that have fallen into the sea and been picked up by England." At Hauteville House, Hugo created a strict daily schedule. He would drink cold coffee and eat two raw eggs in the morning, then work for four hours in his glass-roofed observatory, which he called his "office perched between the sky and the expanse of the sea." It was in this space that he wrote some of his most famous works, including Les Misérables, L'Homme qui rit, and Les Travailleurs de la mer, which he dedicated to the people of Guernsey. He described the island as a "rock of hospitality and freedom." Hugo's daily life at Hauteville House was marked by routine and discipline. He took two-hour walks, often accompanied by his dog Sénat and his mistress Juliette Drouet, who was also his muse and inspirer. He would bathe in the sea, often at Fermain Bay, following a specific method that involved quick dives and drying off with a handkerchief. After his walks, he would return to his work, often writing until half past six. Hugo maintained a long correspondence with Juliette Drouet, exchanging 23,653 letters over the course of their 50-year relationship. She lived in one of his other houses and was a constant presence in his life, especially when his wife, Adèle, was not present. Hugo also organized meals for poor children at Hauteville House, starting with 12 children and eventually feeding about 40. During his time in Guernsey, Hugo was known for his refined manners, cultivated speech, and distinctive appearance. He wore a wide-brimmed hat, a coat thrown over his left shoulder, and walked with hands in his pockets. He was described as polite, funny, and very cultivated, with a deep knowledge of the French language. He was also proud of his status, once replying to a remark about not knowing English with the statement: "Ladies, when England wants to talk to me, it will learn my language." Hugo's time in Guernsey was also marked by his interactions with the local community. He frequented the port of Saint-Pierre, where he could be seen walking among the people, often accompanied by his dog and Juliette. He also visited the Candie Gardens, where a statue of him stands, contemplating the sea and the flow of boats. In the evenings, Hugo would dine at Madame Drouet's, where he would often take her for a glass of cognac. His life in Guernsey was a continuation of his exile from France, and his writing reflected the emotional states of his life, including the grief of his daughter Léopoldine's death. The island of Guernsey, with its unique blend of French and English culture, left a lasting impression on Hugo, who described it as a place of beauty and contrast, where "the west, devastated, is under the breath of the open sea." His time there is remembered not only for his literary output but also for the personal habits and routines that defined his daily life.