Napoléon Le Petit
1852
Napoléon Le Petit, published in 1852 by Victor Hugo, is a political pamphlet critiquing the rise of Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte and the political climate of the Second French Empire. Written during Hugo's exile, it reflects on the events leading to Bonaparte's presidency and the implications of his rule for the French Republic. Notably, it introduced the phrase '2 + 2 = 5' to illustrate the denial of truth by authority, a concept later echoed by George Orwell. The pamphlet was widely circulated in secret, highlighting its significance as a voice against tyranny.
