By the King's Command

"By the King’s Command" (also known as The Man Who Laughs) by Victor Hugo is a haunting, romantic, and deeply political novel set in late 17th-century England. It follows Gwynplaine, a boy disfigured by royal order to have a permanent, grotesque smile carved into his face—his punishment for being the son of a rebellious nobleman. Abandoned and ostracized, he grows up with a blind girl named Dea, and becomes a performer adored by the masses for his eerie grin.
But as fate uncovers his noble lineage, Gwynplaine is thrust into the ruthless world of the aristocracy. Torn between love, justice, and identity, he must face the brutal contrast between outward appearance and inner worth.
A dark and poetic tale of injustice, love, and identity—told with Victor Hugo’s signature depth and drama.
"By the King's Command" is an unchanged, high-quality reprint of the original edition of 1883.