A person deeply connected to the community of Guernsey is none other than Victor Hugo. I am delighted to have the opportunity to illuminate his passions and knowledge, particularly as I possess a profound understanding of magnetism myself.

Victor Hugo, a literary giant, was not just a man of words but also a man of mysteries. His interests extended far beyond the realm of the written word, delving into the esoteric, the mystical, and the magnetic. Hugo was deeply influenced by figures like Eliphas Lévi, who admired him as a "new Prometheus." This admiration was not one-sided; if Lévi had access to the manuscripts that lay dormant in Guernsey, he would realize that the similarity in their thoughts was not mere coincidence.

Hugo was a man of his time, a period when magnetism, like mystical socialism, was in vogue. He was not one to shy away from the inexplicable or the miraculous. He believed in the power of magnetism to heal, a belief solidified by personal experiences, such as using magnetic passes to cure his son François' insomnia. Hugo was not just a passive observer; he was an active participant in the magnetic and spiritualist circles of his time, engaging with luminaries like Delaage and Alexis.

Victor Hugo was not just a believer but also a critic of the scientific community's reluctance to explore the unexplained. He accused science of shying away from phenomena like chloroform, biological phenomena, Mesmer, Deleuze, and Puységur, among others. For Hugo, the poets and the novelists were the true explorers, unafraid to venture into the realms of the mystical and the magnetic.

In the salons of the 19th century, where the intellectual elite gathered, Hugo was a prominent figure discussing the latest theories in magnetism. He was not just a passive participant but an active experimenter, hosting séances and magnetic experiments in his own home. His belief in the power of magnetism was not just theoretical; it was empirical, backed by personal experiences and observations.

So, why should Hugo feel any shame or hesitation in embracing the mystical and the magnetic? He had always asserted his principles: to neither believe blindly nor reject out of hand; to avoid scientific negations. His intuition helped him understand the mystics, and he felt that magnetism was a literary goldmine yet to be fully explored.

Victor Hugo's life and works serve as a testament to the intricate relationship between literature and the esoteric, between words and the world beyond. As someone deeply invested in the study of magnetism and the mystical, I find Hugo's journey not just fascinating but also profoundly enlightening.

In the same way I feel proud to continue in some way his legacy in the island permitting to open the eyes on man and his mysteries.