1836: Becoming a Literary Giant in Britain

"Please welcome Lord Michael Lebrun—Poet Laureate of the British Empire, Queen Victoria's closest adviser, Charles Dickens' greatest rival, and the uncrowned king of Victorian literature." Thunderous applause echoed across the square before Buckingham Palace. Michael surveyed the jubilant crowd before turning toward the young queen at his side. Victoria met his eyes with quiet admiration. It was hard to believe that it had all begun in the freezing winter of 1836, when he awoke in a cramped attic with nothing but debt, hunger... and a manuscript. Charles Dickens: "Meeting Michael changed everything. Before him, I thought I'd reached the summit of literature. After him, I realized I'd only begun the climb." Queen Victoria: "Empires rise and fall. But the humanity preserved in Michael's works will outlive us all." Alexandre Dumas: "England stole a French genius. Paris deserves him back!" The Brontë Sisters: "The first one to get Michael's autograph wins. The other two do the housework for a month."