"The Man Who Laughs" By Victor Hugo "The Man Who Laughs" (also translated as "By Order of the King") is a novel by Victor Hugo, originally published in April 1869. The book is a dark romantic work, set in late 17th-century England, and combines elements of gothic fiction with a deep exploration of social injustice and the human condition. The story begins with the tragic tale of a young boy named Gwynplaine, who is disfigured by a group of comprachicos — criminals who alter children's appearances to make them amusements for the rich. They carve his face into a permanent grin, which leads to his grotesque appearance. Abandoned on a winter's night, Gwynplaine rescues a blind baby girl, Dea, and they are taken in by the kind-hearted showman Ursus. Gwynplaine grows up to become a popular stage performer due to his disfigurement, with audiences both horrified and amus...

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