The Hunchback of Notre Dame

While Les Miserables may generally be considered Victor Hugo's greatest and most popular work, my favorite by far is The Hunchback of Notre Dame.There are several reasons why I consider Hunchbank superior to Les Mis. First is that it is a more compact and tightly written story, covering only 6 months compared to the 20+ years of Les Mis. It has all the drama and emotion of Les Mis (more about that below) but without all the verbose divergences for which Les Mis is notorious. While Les Mis is filled with several of Hugo's lengthy discourses on topics having little or nothing to do with the story itself -- and which certainly do not advance the plot at all -- Hunchback has only one such divergence: Hugo's discussion of the architecture of Paris.Secondly is the setting of Hunchback -- Medieval Paris. I realize this is purely subjective, but for me the color, pageantry and drama of 15th century Paris -- which Hugo illustrates so effectively -- is the most captivating of settings. The superstitions which still had a stronghold on society at that time, and the half-barbaric city which Paris still was, add to the drama and bitter irony of the story.But for me what truly makes Hunchback the better book is the sheer power of the story itself. This is an action-driven plot from very first paragraph (as opposed to Les Mis which is more thoughtful and contemplative), and Hugo spends only minimal time describing the personalities and backstories of his characters, letting their full aspects emerge as the story progresses. The story is full of all the dark superstition and emotion that makes for a truly Gothic tale, and the misplaced loyalties, betrayals, misunderstandings and bitter irony that fill the tale make it heartwrenching and powerful.It is curious that the English title of this book focuses on the hunchback, since he is not the main character; one could argue that there is no single main character at all. However, Quasimodo is the only truly good, selfless character and the only one who manages to not lose the reader's sympathy by the book's end. That the only character who felt true, genuine, unselfish love was a hideously deformed hunchback, a total outcast of society, is perhaps the bitterest irony of all. Hugo's theme of the spider and its web is a perfect capsulation of the tale he spun in The Hunchback.As in Les Mis, Hugo has crafted a story that probes the darker aspects of human nature. And as with Les Mis, Hunchback is not a happy story with a happy ending. However, unlike the more melancholy sadness of Les Mis, the sadness of The Hunchback of Notre Dame is bitter and acute.This is my second listen to Hunchback and definitely won't be my last. I highly recommend this captivating classic. Frederick Davidson does a fine narration. He is growing on me since this is the third audio book I've listened to with his narration and I find that with each one the drawing, affected voice with which he speaks is less annoying. He does a fantastic job with character voices, and Hunchback provides the perfect vehicle for this talent. His weakest performance is that of Esmeralda, but I've yet to hear a male narrator who can do a young female voice well. All in all his narration adds color and personality to this already animated story.

After a recent trip to Paris with my son on a business trip, I decided it was crazy that I had been to Paris and inside Notre Dame so often yet had not read this classic novel. As someone who loves modern Paris, this book captivated me with its vivid portrayal of life in medieval Paris. What a far cry from Baron Hausman's modern Paris -- a Paris with teeming with squalor, poverty, vagabonds -- and the King's Court. Hugo paints wonderful portraits of the main characters -- the hunchback bellringer of Notre Dame, Quasimodo; the tormented archdeacon, Claude Frollo; the exotically beautiful gypsy, Esmeralda.All of these characters and the city of Paris come to life in a way that transports one back 650 years. My only criticisms of the book are the couple of chapters that painstakingly outline the street detail of Paris and the layout of Notre Dame. For me, these interrupted the flow of the story, the development of the characters and left me quite bored. As soon as Hugo got back into the core story and plot, I was re-captivated.I do wish that the original French title was preserved -- Notre Dame de Paris -- rather than the English "Hunchback of Notre Dame". While Quasimodo is certainly a core character, the book is a story about medieval Paris, the daily life of the city, the ordinary citizens of the growing city,the privileged class and themes of love, passion, death and honor. For someone misled by the title, this book is far richer, deeper and more complex than just the story of a deformed bell-ringer of Notre Dame in spite of the images that are etched in most people's minds, a great many who haven't read the book.This is truly one of those novels that deserves its rightful place in the pantheon of literature classics.

"The Hunchback of Notre Dame" is a classic novel written by Victor Hugo, and published in 1831. The novel is set in medieval Paris and tells the story of Quasimodo, the hunchbacked bell-ringer of Notre Dame Cathedral, and his forbidden love for the beautiful gypsy Esmeralda.One of the strengths of the book is its vivid and descriptive writing, which brings the medieval setting to life. Hugo's writing is rich with detail and atmosphere, and he paints a vivid picture of the sights, sounds, and smells of medieval Paris.Another strength of the book is its complex and well-developed characters, particularly the main character Quasimodo. He is a tragic figure, born with a physical deformity and rejected by society, but his inner beauty, loyalty, and generosity shine through. The novel also deals with themes such as love, acceptance, and the dangers of obsession and prejudice.Overall, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" is a powerful and moving novel that will stay with readers long after they finish it. It is a must-read for anyone interested in classic literature and those who want to understand the beauty of human nature and the harsh reality of society.I would rate this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. The book is a classic and it is well-written, its descriptive writing and complex characters make it a great read. However, the book is quite heavy and it could be a bit challenging for some readers, but it is worth the effort.

This relatively hard to get classic book came all the way to me here in South Korea early and in great condition. It is a good-looking and collectable edition with a great cover at a reasonable price. What more could you ask for!

Was very pleased with this book, and it came quickly.

This is, undoubtedly, a chaotic mess of a book which most modern readers will struggle with or skip the architectural parts of. There are sections where 20 pages go by discussing buildings in Paris or describing the mob, with little reference to the main story. But the tale of Esmeralda and Quasimodo, two orphans in the 1480s in cruel, medieval France, is moving when it does unravel. Her gorgeousness and his hideousness make them a pair, like Beauty and the Beast. But, as well as being opposites, they are also the same in their good hearts and capacity to love. The Gothic plot line is very dramatic (hence the film adaptations), and the core of the work lies in the two main characters. They are more than sentimental portrayals. Speaking of the bellringer in his home of Notre-Dame, the narrator says: 'Egypt would have taken him for the god of this temple; the Middle Ages believed him to be its demon: he was in fact its soul.'

The delivery was good the condition of the book nice after open the package. It is the first time i begin to read unabridged ones...!♥️♥️♥️

Some parts were very enjoyable other parts not so much. And ofcourse the book is more about notre dame than quasimodo so that was a bit dissapointing.

The media could not be loaded. Es una edición muy bonita y difícil de conseguir!!! Me alegra haberla encontrado a un precio justo; el material de las hojas es muy bueno, la tipografía es placentera y el material de la portada es suave al toque. Compra recomendada 👌💙