"As much a love letter to the cathedral as it is the story of two
doomed lovers." --Smithsonian Magazine
Written in 1831, The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo is a
beloved French gothic novel which centers around the wondrous Notre Dame
Cathedral in Paris, France. Set during the reign of King Louis XI, we
are introduced to the gypsy dancer Esmerelda. A beautiful girl, both
inside and out, Esmerelda captures the hearts of everyone around her,
including Captain Phoebus, Pierre Gringoire, and the hunchback
Quasimodo, who is hidden away in the tower of Notre Dame as a bell
ringer.
Unfortunately, Esmerelda has also caught the attention of Archdeacon
Claude Frollo, Quasimodo's abusive guardian. Frollo battles with his
lust, eventually succumbing, leading him to pursue Esmerelda while
leaving morality behind.
A beautifully written novel about love, lust, and thirteenth-century
Paris, The Hunchback of Notre Dame will leave readers both marveling
at the beauty of Notre Dame and reeling at the lengths that people will
go for love.
Packaged in handsome, affordable trade editions, Clydesdale Classics is
a new series of essential works. From the musings of literary geniuses
such as Nathaniel Hawthorne in The Scarlet Letter to the striking
personal narrative of Harriet Jacobs in Incidents in the Life of a
Slave Girl, this new series is a comprehensive collection of
masterpieces by some of the most famous writers in history.
