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.

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