Project

Workbook on P58

Victor Hugo (1802-1885) Victor Hugo is one of the most famous French writers of the nineteenth century. He wrote novels, poems, and plays. He was as important to French literature in the nineteenth century as Shakespeare is to English literature in the sixteenth century.

He was very involved in the politics of his day and wrote many stories showing bow difficult life was for poor people in France at that time. His most famous books are Les Miserables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. 巴黎圣母院

Christopher Reeve (1952-2004) He was an actor in films and became famous when he played Superman in a series of films about that cartoon character. However, disaster struck when he fell off his horse and became paralyzed from the neck down.

He bravely tried to cope with his illness and to help others with the same condition. He gave money for research into his condition but although he improved, Christopher Reeve was never able to walk or take part in films as an ordinary actor again.

Sima Qian (about 145 BC-87 BC) Sima Qian was one of the first imperial historians who tried to write a comprehensive history of China. He collected documents of people who had worked for earlier emperors and reported their conclusions. He showed that there can be two interpretations of the same

Reign when he reported two different ideas about the methods and achievements of Emperor Qin. Eventually he offended the Han Emperor Wu when he supported a disgraced general. For this offence he was punished and disgraced. Instead of committing suicide to save his honour, Sima Qian continued his work on the history of China. His writings have been invaluable for later scholars.

Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) Vincent van Gogh was Dutch but lived most of his adult life in France. He became a painter and met many important Impressionist painters such as Monet and Pissaro. He had a very difficult personality which made it difficult for him to get on with others.

He cut off the lower half of his left ear and give to a prostitute He cut off the lower half of his left ear and give to a prostitute. As he grew older Vincent became more and more odd and he put all his feelings and emotions into his paintings. He used intense colours and violent brushstrokes to make his paintings very powerful and emotional.

Yet he only sold one painting in his lifetime Yet he only sold one painting in his lifetime. Nevertheless, he has become one of the most important of the Post-Impressionist painters.

Frederic Chopin ( 1810-1849) Chopin grew up in Warsaw, Poland but moved to France in 1831. He lived there for the rest of his life. He was a very gifted pianist who earned his living as a performer and teacher.

However he was also a talented composer and wrote many important ballades and rondos for the piano. His ambitious style of playing and composition influenced many other composers such as Debussy, Liszt, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov. He died of tuberculosis (TB) when he was at the height of his fame.