book data
3676 ratings, 3.77 average rating, 303 reviews
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published
January 16th 2004
(first published 1831)
by Barnes & Noble Classics
binding
Mass Market Paperback, 608 pages
isbn
1593080476
(isbn13: 9781593080471)
description
One of the first great novels of the Romantic era, Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame has thrilled generations of readers w...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 5021)
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avg 3.77
Read in October, 2002
I have officially been wooed by nineteenth century French literature. First Dumas and now this. I just finished reading Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, and it was fantastic. The characters, the themes, the literary structures… Ahhh… *swoons*
Before I proclaim my love affair with Victor Hugo, I have to mention some negatives. First off: very, very difficult book to get into. I struggled through at least the first hundred pages, and I’m not that hard to please. S...more
Before I proclaim my love affair with Victor Hugo, I have to mention some negatives. First off: very, very difficult book to get into. I struggled through at least the first hundred pages, and I’m not that hard to please. S...more
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Read in July, 2007
"Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." This has created a theme that stories have focussed on for centuries. It is one that we try to teach different ways with more unique characters.
When one first reads a synopsis of "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame", they would easily assume they will be reading another author's method of bringing this theme into their story. However, very shortly into the novel one finds that Quasimodo is not orginally t...more
When one first reads a synopsis of "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame", they would easily assume they will be reading another author's method of bringing this theme into their story. However, very shortly into the novel one finds that Quasimodo is not orginally t...more
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When I was in middle school, I'd watched and enjoyed the Disney animated version of the story, totally oblivious to how absolutely horribly Disney had "cleaned it up" for the children. Then one day, on the word of the day mailing list I'm subscribed to, one of the words had an example on its use pulled from the book. Just that one except was enough to totally floor me, I knew Disney really frelled with things, but I never remembered it being so extreme before. I had for some reason ass...more
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Read in February, 2006
recommends it for:
one and all.
Someone else review it almost as perfectly as you could have. He'd seen the Disney adaptation, and decided that Disney did what Disney does, and cut out a lot of important details. Fortunately I read the book first, and couldn't bear the Disney version, partially cause I was tipsy at the time.
The only part of the book that was extremely difficult to make it through was the 30 page description of Paris. I took about 2 weeks to get through those, and flew through the rest.
I read the t...more
The only part of the book that was extremely difficult to make it through was the 30 page description of Paris. I took about 2 weeks to get through those, and flew through the rest.
I read the t...more
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Read in January, 2000
recommends it for:
Anyone
I was thinking about this book, because I recently looked at my pictures of my trip to Paris and the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Hugo does get a little bit too detail oriented in the beginning of the book, describing Paris and its architecture down to very minute details. However, if you hang in there, it is a well written tale about outsiders, the hunchback who lives in the cathedral and rings the bells, and Esmerelda, the gypsy who takes refuge there (essentially, if one had committed or been a...more
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Read in September, 2008
The writing is brilliant, the plot is unusual. But-- perhaps like in life-- where are the good guys? Esmerelda doesn't say much other than "Oh Pheobus!" She's a very flat character, imho. The book seems to be a study in love gone wrong-- romantic love, parental love, all gone wrong. There are examples of charitable love toward Quasimoto, and in the end he performs a selfless act for Esmerelda, but overall it was a very depressing look at love vs lust, and a study in what not to do...more
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Read in May, 2005
recommends it for:
Outer Mouters
Victor Hugo describes much more than 15-th century parisian architecture with THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, he describes emotions as they pertain to the soul. Using a soldier, a priest, an artist, a hunchback, a dancing gypsy, a woman imprisoned, a band of vagabonds and citizens of conformance populating the city of Paris as symbols for human emotions and the church of Notre Dame to represent the soul--HUGO weaves a story of brilliant imagination and subtance. This is a masterpiece.
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Read in January, 2003
This is not a story for people who like happy endings, its very dark and "gothic" if you will, but an excellent book! I would recommend that read to compare with Les Miserables as the two books have a poignant contrast of endings. I have now summarized the book (which very few of my friends have actually read) to at least a half dozen people.
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Read in January, 2006
Esmeralda is one of my favorite literary characters. My favorite bits are the paragraphs relating to her; the sentences were so gorgeous that it took my breath away. Victor was not accepted by older audiences during his time, but the youth worshiped him. He was a Pisces, like me...perhaps that's why I enjoy his writing!
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Read in September, 1992
Although I'm a fan of scary stuff...this one was a little too much for me. It shocked me a bit, some characters more than others. I read it in high school so that might account for a lot of the my shock. (I'm not talking about the scary stuff, but the more grown up matters)
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Victor Hugo triumphs again. Complete with his signature of sudden unnecessary and dry detail, he brings forth another great book on morality, compassion, and common decency.
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Read in August, 2008
This book is amazing! It gives a sweeping historical overview of architecture, art, and the advent of literature as a mass media. Brilliant!
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Read in July, 2008
recommended to Brian by:
my priest formatorrecommends it for: philosophy major students/seminarians
even the ugliest creature in the world have its own use. and even the most religious person have his own shortcomings.
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This is a perfect tale of humanity. It's truly a wonderful novel.
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Read in October, 2008
recommends it for:
EVERYONE
This was the most amazing piece of literature I have ever read! Filled if conflict, drama, comedy, tragedy, and romance. Though it is a very sad book, for those who don't like sad stories(which i don't understand, just because it's sad or has a sad ending doesn't make it a bad book!!!). It involves a deformed hunchback ridiculed and shunned by society for his ugly appearence. But despite his appearence, his heart is a thing of rare beauty. When the stunningly beautiful gypsy Esmeralda is unfa...more
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Read in August, 2008
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Read in November, 2007
recommends it for:
everyone
What a sad love story.
Again, this is JUST like The Phantom of the Opera. Mr. Victor Hugo said this story was true as well, and even the events were similar: an ugly man fell in love with a girl who loves him, but not in THAT way. And they all take place in Paris, France, but different time.
I wonder if ALL French journalists write stories this way, but it's attractive, though.
La Esmeralda, a pretty gypsy street dancer, was involved with four man in her short life.
Fr...more
Again, this is JUST like The Phantom of the Opera. Mr. Victor Hugo said this story was true as well, and even the events were similar: an ugly man fell in love with a girl who loves him, but not in THAT way. And they all take place in Paris, France, but different time.
I wonder if ALL French journalists write stories this way, but it's attractive, though.
La Esmeralda, a pretty gypsy street dancer, was involved with four man in her short life.
Fr...more
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Read in October, 2007
This is a wonderfully woven story about how the lives of the several protagonists tragically intersect to cause the demise of them all.
The book's ending really made me sad. It also made me so irritated, which is a credit to Victor Hugo's ability to draw you into the story. I was irritated - by La Esmeralda's fantasy love (unrequited) for the self-absorbed Captain Pheobus which ultimately cost her her life - by the arch deacon of Notre Dame's desperate, pathetic and crazy obssession over La...more
The book's ending really made me sad. It also made me so irritated, which is a credit to Victor Hugo's ability to draw you into the story. I was irritated - by La Esmeralda's fantasy love (unrequited) for the self-absorbed Captain Pheobus which ultimately cost her her life - by the arch deacon of Notre Dame's desperate, pathetic and crazy obssession over La...more
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Read in October, 2007
I am always rereading Notre-Dame de Paris, and each time I rediscover the urban landscape, the mystery of the cathedral, the drama and pathos of small intersecting lives that construct the story. Now that I'm halfway through my second time teaching it, I am realizing even more how much history, power and talent Hugo puts into each page, to create in these pages about medieval Paris a mirror for the revolutionary and aesthetic politics of France in his own time (and quite possibly in ours).
M...more
M...more
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Read in September, 2007
I didn't know what to expect from this book, and I was pleasantly surprised.
I didn't know a single thing about the story of the Hunchback of Notre Dame, aside from a few basic facts. I knew it takes place in Paris. I knew part of the action, at least, was at the Notre Dame cathedral. I knew one of the main characters was Quasimodo, the hunchbacked bell-ringer of the cathedral. I knew he was protecting a gypsy girl named Esmerelda. Other than those things, I knew not a single thing about...more
I didn't know a single thing about the story of the Hunchback of Notre Dame, aside from a few basic facts. I knew it takes place in Paris. I knew part of the action, at least, was at the Notre Dame cathedral. I knew one of the main characters was Quasimodo, the hunchbacked bell-ringer of the cathedral. I knew he was protecting a gypsy girl named Esmerelda. Other than those things, I knew not a single thing about...more
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