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Cover of Notre-Dame de Paris

Gothic

Notre-Dame de Paris

by Victor Hugo

Translated by Isabel F. Hapgood

An archdeacon of Notre-Dame and his bellringer fall in love with the same gypsy, with tragic results.

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First published
1888
Length
184,771 words
Reading time
About 12 hr 50 min
Language
English (UK)

About the book

Esmeralda is a breathtaking beauty and attracts the attention of men all around her, including an actor, a captain, and an archdeacon, to whom she is of course forbidden. But because of a kindness she paid to him, there is one whose love for her is pure: the archdeacon’s bellringer. The actions of the archdeacon, who cannot control his lust for the young woman, ultimately draws all four men into her orbit, and his, with tragic consequences.

Hugo’s tragic novel is an ode to gothic architecture in general and that of Notre-Dame de Paris in particular. Hugo was upset both at the neglect of buildings like Notre-Dame, and the modernization of those that weren’t being neglected. By centering on the building, he was able to bring all classes into his story: from kings and nobles to bellringers and sewer rats. The first American translation changed the title to “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” shifting attention to the bellringer, but Hugo’s focus was always on Notre-Dame and the beautiful gothic architecture of Paris.

First published 1888; the Read4Max reading text contains approximately 184,771 words arranged in 74 navigable sections.

The source metadata identifies Translator: Isabel F. Hapgood.

About the author

Victor Hugo

Victor Hugo (1802–1885) is described by Wikidata as French novelist, poet, dramatist and politician (1802–1885), with citizenship or national association recorded as France, Belgium, and United Kingdom.

Recorded occupations include politician, playwright, novelist, draftsperson, librettist, and essayist. Languages recorded for Victor Hugo include French. The structured record associates Victor Hugo with freethought and French Romanticism. Wikidata lists Les Misérables, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Les Contemplations, L'Art d'être grand-père, The Man Who Laughs, and Les Orientales among Victor Hugo's notable works. Open Library identifies Les Misérables as a leading work in its author record. Open Library catalogs 4612 works under this author record. The Read4Max catalog currently includes Les Misérables, Notre-Dame de Paris, and Toilers of the Sea under Victor Hugo's authorship.

1802–1885

Contributors

Translator

Isabel F. Hapgood

Reading options

  • A complete text with direct section navigation in the browser reader.
  • A downloadable EPUB for phones, tablets, desktop reading apps, and compatible ereaders.
  • Book and contributor metadata are checked against the source edition before indexing.

Themes and ideas

  • Historical fiction
  • People with disabilities
  • France
  • Clergy
  • Paris (France)
  • Notre-Dame de Paris (Cathedral)
  • Romances

Table of contents

Open reader
Show all 74 sections
  1. Preface
  2. Notre-Dame de Paris
  3. Book I
  4. I
  5. II
  6. III
  7. IV
  8. V
  9. VI
  10. Book II
  11. I
  12. II
  13. III
  14. IV
  15. V
  16. VI
  17. VII
  18. Book III
  19. I
  20. II
  21. Book IV
  22. I
  23. II
  24. III
  25. IV
  26. V
  27. VI
  28. Book V
  29. I
  30. II
  31. Book VI
  32. I
  33. II
  34. III
  35. IV
  36. V
  37. Book VII
  38. I
  39. II
  40. III
  41. IV
  42. V
  43. VI
  44. VII
  45. VIII
  46. Book VIII
  47. I
  48. II
  49. III
  50. IV
  51. V
  52. VI
  53. Book IX
  54. I
  55. II
  56. III
  57. IV
  58. V
  59. VI
  60. Book X
  61. I
  62. II
  63. III
  64. IV
  65. V
  66. VI
  67. VII
  68. Book XI
  69. I
  70. II
  71. III
  72. IV
  73. Note
  74. Endnotes
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