Personal Library -- Notre-Dame de Paris

Author: (French) Victor Hugo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: The Hunchback of Notre-Dame is a novel by the 19th-century French Romantic writer Victor Hugo, imbued with profound intellectual depth and poignant artistic impact. Set against the backdrop of Paris under the rule of King Louis XI in the 15th century, the novel opens by immersing readers in the fervent crowd celebrating a religious festival before Notre-Dame Cathedral. It then unfolds a tragic and moving story through dramatic means. Esmeralda is a beautiful Bohemian girl who earns a living by selling flowers on the streets of Paris. The Archdeacon Claude develops an evil obsession with her. At night, he orders the grotesquely ugly bell ringer Quasimodo to abduct the girl in the streets, but she is rescued by Phoebus, the captain of the guard. After falling in love with this frivolous officer, Esmeralda attracts even more jealousy from Claude. Taking advantage of the couple's impending execution, Claude is later saved by Quasimodo, who harbors deep love and humility for her. They seek refuge temporarily on the rooftop of Notre-Dame Cathedral, but the Church considers Esmeralda a heretic, and the court determines to arrest her despite sanctuary rights. The Parisian underworld, including beggars, storms Notre-Dame to rescue the girl. Amid the chaos, Claude abducts her from the Cathedral and forces her to submit to his carnal desires. When she refuses, he hands her over to the pursuing officers. From the rooftop of Notre-Dame, he watches her being hanged. In despair, Quasimodo furiously pushes the Archdeacon off the rooftop, killing him instantly. He then goes to the cemetery and finds Esmeralda's body, dying beside her.