“A three-meter lane? That’s barely a street,” you might think. But before you dismiss Rue Paul Meurice as insignificant, let me point out that this narrow passage tucked away in the 20th arrondissement holds the story of a remarkable man, François Paul Meurice. You might not recognize the name, but Meurice was a literary giant in the shadow of Victor Hugo. They were close friends, almost brothers in arms, sharing a passion for words and revolution. In fact, Meurice was so devoted to Hugo that he managed his literary affairs, including his finances and publishing, during the 20 years Hugo was exiled after the coup d’état of 1851.
It all began when Meurice was just 18 and met the already established Hugo through a mutual friend. From that moment on, their friendship blossomed, and Meurice found himself immersed in Hugo’s world of literature and politics. Their collaboration extended beyond friendship to collaborative projects; Meurice adapted Hugo’s famous novels, Notre-Dame de Paris, Les Misérables, and Quatre-Vingt-Treize, for the stage.
But Meurice wasn’t just a shadow; he had a talent for writing in his own right. He wrote novels, plays, and even collaborated with the likes of Alexandre Dumas and George Sand. He also founded and wrote for the newspaper Le Rappel with Hugo’s son Charles and their shared friend Auguste Vacquerie.
And now, standing here before you, is not only the namesake street of this literary giant, but a street that whispers of a time when Paris was at the heart of a literary and political awakening. Just imagine, walking down this very street, you could have encountered Hugo, Meurice, and Vacquerie, discussing the latest ideas and movements that would shape the future of France.
Today, Rue Paul Meurice may be a small lane, but its history is vast. It reminds us of the power of friendship, the unwavering dedication to art, and the enduring legacy of a man who dedicated his life to words.