The Hunchback of Notre-Dame

The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, originally published in French as *Notre-Dame de Paris* in 1831, is a historical novel by Victor Hugo set in 15th-century Paris.

The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, originally published in French as *Notre-Dame de Paris* in 1831, is a historical novel by Victor Hugo set in 15th-century Paris. It centers on Quasimodo, Esmeralda, and Claude Frollo, and is closely associated with Notre-Dame Cathedral and Gothic Romanticism. The novel is regarded as a major example of Romantic-era literature and contributed to public interest in the preservation of Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Plot and setting

The novel is set in Paris in 1482 and follows the lives of Quasimodo, Esmeralda, and Claude Frollo around Notre-Dame Cathedral. The cathedral functions as both a major setting and a symbolic centre of the story.

Publication and title

Victor Hugo published the novel in 1831 under the French title *Notre-Dame de Paris*. The English title *The Hunchback of Notre-Dame* became common after an 1833 translation by Frederic Shoberl, and that title became standard in English.

Themes

The novel is associated with Romanticism and explores themes such as love, fate, social exclusion, beauty, and injustice. It also presents a strong interest in medieval Paris and Gothic architecture.

Cultural significance

The book became influential in French literature and is often credited with helping renew interest in the preservation of Notre-Dame Cathedral and Gothic Revival architecture. It has also been widely adapted in other media.