by Victor Hugo, 1866
Dedicated to the Island of Guernsey. He lived there in exile from France for about 15 years. He wrote Les Miserables while there (1862).
Story of Gilliat, a fine, young, lonely man who saves birds and children, cures sickness and is a fantastic fisherman, gardener, and bagpipe player.
He falls in love with Deruchette, an old fisherman’s niece (Mess Lethierry). Lethierry builds a steamboat and becomes rich. His captain, Siear Clubin, who seemed so honest and good, was really evil. He murders a coast guard, gets 75,000 francs from Rantaine (who stole it from Mess Lethierry years ago) and wrecks the Durande (the steamship) on the Douvre rocks in a fog. He was going to swim to shore and escape to Costa Rica and live out his days. Instead a huge sea monster captures him (unknown to all but the reader).
The crew of the Durande report the tragedy to Mess Lethierry. He is devastated. The community is discussing the wreck. A fisherman sees it and says the engine is still intact. Mess Lethierry says whoever can bring back the engine can marry Deruchette. Deruchette echoes this. Gilliatt goes unknown and alone to the Douvre rocks and 2 1/2 months of extremely hard work and survival of wind, sea, and the sea monster, brings back the Durande’s engine and the 75,000 francs that Clubin stole. Gilliatt is looking for food in an underground cavern and is found by the sea monster – octopus – the tentacles wrap around him – he has one arm free with his knife. He kills the octopus, sees a human skeleton and around its chest cavity is a leather belt – and iron box containing Mess Lethierry’s 75,000 francs.
He brings all home to Guernsey in hopes of marrying Deruchette. That night, hiding in her garden, he hears the priest propose his love and ask her to marry him. She says yes. Then Mess Lethierry has seen his steam engine moored outside his house and rings the bell and the whole community gathers and Gilliatt is a hero. Mess Lethierry says he shall marry Deruchette the next day. She faints. The priest and Deruchette are parting the next day in sadness. Gilliatt shows up and tells them they can marry. He takes them to the Church, gives them a ring, a note to the priest, written by Mess – meant for Gilliatt- and they marry and leave for England in a boat. Gilliatt follows the boat along shore out to a rock. The tide is rising. He sits on the rock watching the boat until the tide overtakes him. The end.
Beautiful island – Guernsey – Victor Hugo loves it and he admires the old fishermen – the Toilers of the Sea. He writes some really long, hard to understand chapters about the rocks, the sea, the wind, octopus, ships…but the story itself is moving and the characters are deep and incredible, especially Gilliatt. Tragic ending.