Adventure, Fiction, Gothic, Historical, Romance, Social Commentary, Tragedy
Format
Digital
+ 100 Total Pages
Read it on All Devices
+ 1,000 Active Readers
Book Description
Notre-Dame de Paris (1831), known in English as The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, is one of Victor Hugo’s most famous works. Set in medieval Paris, the novel is a rich tapestry of love, obsession, and tragedy, centered around the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral. The story follows several characters, most notably Quasimodo, the deformed bell-ringer of the cathedral, and Esmeralda, a beautiful and kind-hearted Romani street dancer. Quasimodo, raised by the archdeacon Claude Frollo, becomes obsessed with Esmeralda, who, in turn, is caught in a love triangle involving him, the handsome Captain Phoebus, and Frollo.
The novel explores themes of passion, social justice, and human cruelty, contrasting Quasimodo’s inner kindness with the society’s outward prejudices. As the story unfolds, Hugo critiques the harshness of 15th-century Parisian life, particularly the treatment of outsiders and the downtrodden. Through vivid characterizations and rich descriptions of Parisian life, Notre-Dame de Paris is both a gripping love story and a critique of the social inequalities of the time.
About Author
Victor Hugo
Victor Hugo (1802–1885) was a French writer, poet, and playwright, best known for his monumental works Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. He was a leading figure in French Romanticism and a major influence on literature, both in France and internationally. Hugo’s works are characterized by their deep empathy for the poor and oppressed, as well as their exploration of social justice, morality, and the human condition.
Born in Besançon, France, Hugo began his literary career with poetry and later moved into novels and plays. His early works embraced the Romantic ideals of individualism, emotion, and rebellion against social norms. The Hunchback of Notre-Dame (1831), his first major novel, is set in medieval Paris and explores themes of love, obsession, and societal outcasts through the tragic figure of Quasimodo, the bell ringer of Notre Dame Cathedral.
However, it was Les Misérables (1862) that solidified Hugo’s place in literary history. This epic novel spans several decades and follows the lives of several characters, most notably Jean Valjean, a former convict trying to redeem himself, and Javert, the unrelenting inspector pursuing him. The novel is both a social critique and a moral exploration of grace, justice, and redemption.
In addition to his literary career, Hugo was also a political figure and a champion of human rights. He was an outspoken critic of the French monarchy, an advocate for the abolition of the death penalty, and a defender of civil liberties.
Hugo’s works have been translated into numerous languages, adapted into films, plays, and musicals, and remain widely read today for their profound moral insights, unforgettable characters, and vivid depictions of society.
+ 100 Total Pages
Read it on All Devices
+ 1,000 Active Readers
Book Description
Notre-Dame de Paris (1831), known in English as The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, is one of Victor Hugo’s most famous works. Set in medieval Paris, the novel is a rich tapestry of love, obsession, and tragedy, centered around the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral. The story follows several characters, most notably Quasimodo, the deformed bell-ringer of the cathedral, and Esmeralda, a beautiful and kind-hearted Romani street dancer. Quasimodo, raised by the archdeacon Claude Frollo, becomes obsessed with Esmeralda, who, in turn, is caught in a love triangle involving him, the handsome Captain Phoebus, and Frollo.
The novel explores themes of passion, social justice, and human cruelty, contrasting Quasimodo’s inner kindness with the society’s outward prejudices. As the story unfolds, Hugo critiques the harshness of 15th-century Parisian life, particularly the treatment of outsiders and the downtrodden. Through vivid characterizations and rich descriptions of Parisian life, Notre-Dame de Paris is both a gripping love story and a critique of the social inequalities of the time.
About Author
Victor Hugo (1802–1885) was a French writer, poet, and playwright, best known for his monumental works Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. He was a leading figure in French Romanticism and a major influence on literature, both in France and internationally. Hugo’s works are characterized by their deep empathy for the poor and oppressed, as well as their exploration of social justice, morality, and the human condition.
Born in Besançon, France, Hugo began his literary career with poetry and later moved into novels and plays. His early works embraced the Romantic ideals of individualism, emotion, and rebellion against social norms. The Hunchback of Notre-Dame (1831), his first major novel, is set in medieval Paris and explores themes of love, obsession, and societal outcasts through the tragic figure of Quasimodo, the bell ringer of Notre Dame Cathedral.
However, it was Les Misérables (1862) that solidified Hugo’s place in literary history. This epic novel spans several decades and follows the lives of several characters, most notably Jean Valjean, a former convict trying to redeem himself, and Javert, the unrelenting inspector pursuing him. The novel is both a social critique and a moral exploration of grace, justice, and redemption.
In addition to his literary career, Hugo was also a political figure and a champion of human rights. He was an outspoken critic of the French monarchy, an advocate for the abolition of the death penalty, and a defender of civil liberties.
Hugo’s works have been translated into numerous languages, adapted into films, plays, and musicals, and remain widely read today for their profound moral insights, unforgettable characters, and vivid depictions of society.