Complex sentence: In December 1840, Thiers helped secure the election of Victor Hugo to the Academie Français, desire a lack of enthusiasm from older writers; he was accepted only on the fifth ballot, by a single vote.
Split into simpler sentences: In December 1840, Thiers helped secure the election of Victor Hugo to the Academie Français, despite the opposition of the more conservative members. Hugo was accepted only on the fifth ballot, by a single vote.