Notre Dame de Paris (Illustrated Edition)

Author: (French) Victor Hugo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
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. The story is set in 15th-century Paris under the rule of Louis XI. Opening with a scene of fervent crowds celebrating a religious festival before Notre-Dame Cathedral, it then unfolds a tragic and moving tale. Esmeralda is a beautiful Bohemian girl who earns a living by begging on the streets of Paris. The Archdeacon Claude falls for her, and at night, he orders the grotesquely ugly bell ringer Quasimodo to abduct the girl in the streets. However, she is rescued by Phoebus, the captain of the guard. After falling in love with the frivolous officer, Esmeralda attracts Claude's jealousy. Claude arranges for the couple to be sentenced to death, but they are later saved by Quasimodo, who harbors deep love and humility for her. They take refuge temporarily in the bell tower of Notre-Dame. However, the Church considers the girl a heretic, and the court decides to arrest her despite sanctuary rights. The poor and beggars of Paris storm Notre-Dame to rescue the girl. Amid the chaos, Claude abducts her from the Cathedral and forces her to submit to his beastly desires. When she refuses, he hands her over to the pursuing guards. From the bell tower above, he watches as she is hanged. In despair, Quasimodo furiously pushes the Archdeacon off the tower, killing him instantly. He then goes to the cemetery and finds Esmeralda's body, dying beside her.