Toilers of the Sea

Originally published in 1866 and dedicated to the island of Guernsey where Hugo was living in exile, this novel tells the story of Gilliat and his love for Deruchette. Though he is far beneath her station, Gilliat's love doesn't falter and when Deruchette promises to marry the man who can salvage a steam engine from a wrecked ship, he leaps to the task, in the process battling a giant octopus and finding treasure.