Bug-Jargal by Victor Hugo. Short summary

5 seconds

The story of the friendship between the nephew of the planter d’Auvergne and the black slave Bug-Jargal. When the black man sacrifices himself and dies, his friend goes off to war, where he dies a hero.

1 minute

French army captain Leopold d’Auvergne tells his fellow soldiers his story.

As a young man, the captain was sent from France to San Domingo to live with his planter uncle. The young man was to marry his daughter Marie. One day the girl was saved from death by a slave named Pierrot, who was in love with her.

Leopold befriended him and his faithful dog, Rusk. In honor of their wedding, Leopold and Marie asked for a gift of freedom for Pierrot.

On the day of their wedding, a slave revolt breaks out in San Domingo. Leopold joins the troops.

Pierrot, under the name of Byug-Jargal, is one of the leaders of the rebels. He saves Marie and later Leopold.

To save his comrades from death, Bugh-Jargal voluntarily goes to his execution. Leopold fails to save his friend in time.

Marie dies in a fire. After losing his friend and wife, Leopold goes off to war.

He later dies as a hero.