Notre Dame de Paris -- Must-Read for the New Curriculum of Chinese Language in the 21st Century

Author: Victor Hugo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-07-01
Features: The Hunchback of Notre-Dame is a novel by Hugo with immense intellectual power and artistic appeal. Set against the backdrop of Paris under the rule of Louis XI in the 15th century, the novel depicts the lives of the lower classes, reflecting the social reality of France at the time through historical reflections. The Gypsy girl Esmeralda earns a living by performing on the streets. The Archdeacon of Notre-Dame Cathedral, Claude Frollo, desires to possess her. However, he discovers she has another lover. He then schemes to murder her lover and frames her for the crime, leading to her being sentenced to death. But the bell ringer, Quasimodo, saves her and brings her to Notre-Dame Cathedral for sanctuary. Frollo abducts her and hands her over to the authorities. The plot is vivid, the characters are distinct, and it is hard to put down.