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The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo
The Hunchback of Notre-Dame
(French: Notre-Dame de Paris, "Our Lady of Paris") is a novel by
Victor Hugo
published in 1831. The French title refers to the
Notre-Dame
Cathedral in Paris, on which the story is centred. The
Notre-Dame
Cathedral is one of the largest and most well-known cathedrals in the world.
The
story
The Hunchback of Notre-Dame
begins on Epiphany (6 January), 1482, the day of the 'Feast of Fools' in Paris, France. Quasimodo, is introduced by his crowning as King of Fools.
Esmeralda, a beautiful Gypsy with a kind and generous heart, captures the hearts of many men, including those of a Captain Phoebus and a poor street poet, Pierre Gringoire, but especially those of
Quasimodo
and his adoptive father, Claude Frollo, the Archdeacon
of Notre-Dame
. Frollo is torn between his obsessive love and the rules of the church.
He orders Quasimodo to kidnap her, but the hunchback is suddenly captured by Phoebus and his guards who save Esmeralda.
Quasimodo is sentenced to be flogged and turned on the pillory for one hour, followed by another hour's public exposure. He calls for water. Esmeralda, seeing his thirst, offers him a drink. It saves him, and she captures his heart.
Esmeralda is later charged with the attempted murder of Phoebus, whom Frollo actually attempted to kill in jealousy, after seeing him about to have sex with Esmeralda, and is tortured and sentenced to death by hanging. (Summary by Wikipedia)
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