Le Notre Dame de Paris by Victor Hugo

Victor Hugo never wrote a book entitled “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” Some early translators gave it that name. What he actually wrote was a novel called “Le Notre Dame de Paris”, and is not primarily about the deformed bell ringer Quasimodo or a beautiful gypsy girl named Esmeralda. As a matter of fact, the role of Quasimodo in the novel is surprisingly small, which makes you wonder why the English translators chose “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” for the title. As what the original French title would indicate, the focus of the book is the cathedral of Notre Dame itself. That is why in the unabridged versions of the book, you will find several chapters that seemingly have nothing to do with the plot of the story. This is the book’s weakest point, and it may turn you away from the book. But once you get into the plot, it is impossible to put the book down, because the characters start to become intriguing: the composer Pierre Gringoire; archdeacon Dom Claude Frollo, who was once a paragon of virtue but now tormented by his corrupt love for a gypsy girl, L’ Esmeralda; Phoebus, the selfish, egotistical captain of the guards; and of course, Quasimodo, the deaf, deformed bell ringer of the Notre Dame. The relationships between the characters of the novel are too complex but they make this story unforgettable. The story can be dark and gloomy, never a happy one from front to back. So if you are looking for a “feel-good” book, this is not the one for you. But if you are looking for a good book to read and you are not afraid to deal with the darker side of reality, then “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” by Victor Hugo is highly recommended for you.