Notre Dame de Paris

Author: Compiled by the Editorial Committee of "Literary Classics for Young Readers"
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: This tragic story takes place in Paris under the rule of Louis XI of France. The pure and kind Gypsy girl Esmeralda, admired for her beauty, becomes the object of desire for Claude Frollo, the hypocritical and malevolent Archdeacon of Notre-Dame Cathedral. After her conspiracy is exposed, he tries to kill her. When she is about to be executed on the gallows, the ugly but kind-hearted bell ringer Quasimodo bravely saves her and does everything in his power to protect her. However, she ultimately does not escape death. After her death, Quasimodo also follows her into the afterlife.
The author, Victor Hugo (1802–1885), was a French writer born into an officer's family. His early work, "Les Contes," exhibited clear royalist tendencies. Later influenced by progressive ideas, he wrote plays such as "Cromwell," "Hernani," and "Le Roi s'amuse," as well as the novel "Notre-Dame de Paris." His works opposed feudal autocracy and tyranny, forcing him to leave France. Between 1861 and 1885, he created "Les Misérables," "Les Travailleurs de la mer," and "The Man Who Laughs." He returned to his homeland in 1870 and completed "Ninety-Three," an epic celebrating the climax of the French Revolution, in 1874. Other significant works include the poetry collection "Legends of the Past" and numerous political essays and speeches.
Through "Notre-Dame de Paris," the author criticizes the hypocrisy and cruelty of the medieval church hierarchy, revealing the themes of good versus evil and beauty versus ugliness, with profound artistic appeal. The popular and fluent language, along with exquisite illustrations, makes the work accessible and helps young readers better understand and grasp the essence of the story.