Notre-Dame de Paris: Tome 2
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This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of an edition by Manz, Vienne.
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Categories: Comics & Graphic Novels Tags: NotreDame, Paris, Tome
“Notre Dame de Paris”, better known by its English title “Hunchback of Notre Dame”, suprised me with its applicability to the modern technological world. When I thought how unlikely events seemed and how painfully unsympathetic were most of the main characters, the tale seemed poised to disappoint. But by the end I realized the fatal tragedy of the events and the effectiveness of Hugo’s social commentary. All in all a wonderful book. It has inspired me to dig out Johnson’s history of art to read again the history of gothic art. The book is more about architecture than about the hunchback, and events surrounding Claude Frollo, Quasimodo and Esmeralda seem to take a back seat to Hugo’s passion for gothic architecture and its demise at the hands of modern “improvements”.
What surprised me most was an analogy by Hugo that presages technological advances of today, in particular the internet. In Book V Hugo describes the revolutionary advance made by the printing press and how it replaced architecture as the past language for human thoughts: “The invention of printing is the greatest event in history. It is the mother of revolutions. It is humanity’s mode of expression really renewed, human thought discarding one form and putting on another… In the form of printing, thought is more imperishable than ever; it is volatile, elusive, indestructible. It blends with the air. In the time of architecture it became a mountain and took forceful possession of an age and a space. Now it becomes a flock of birds, scatters to the four winds and simultaneously occupies every point of air and space.” If one did not know Hugo wrote this in the nineteenth century, one might easily reflect he was writing about the revolutionary scenery of the internet as a vehicle for the expression of human thoughts when compared to traditional publishing. Hugo calls printing “the second Tower of Babel of the human race.” If he were still writing today, no doubt he might call the internet “the Third Tower of Babel.”
Reader’s Rating: 4 / 5
Notre-Dame de Paris by Champion Hugo
Any fan of fantastic literature, gorgeous prose, French history, architecture, or Champion Hugo will like this ebook. The novel is astonishingly imaginative, and includes powerful, disturbing and memorable scenes. Notre-Dame de Paris is one of the finest classics ever written.
Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5
Unlike a fantastic number of the people giving this book a positive review, I was and still am a fan of Disney’s movie. Yes, the movie distorted the book reasonably generously–but this is to be expected of a children’s film adaptation. I view the movie’s being as positive since it encourages older fans of the movie to go and seek Hugo’s book to get the perfect tale. It is a sad fact that most people have never read the book, but, the Disney movie brought attention back to it–a victory, in my opinion.
As far as the book itself, it was marvelous! Hugo’s writing style is ornate and an artistic work in itself. As far as who the main character is, I would daresay that this is up to the reader’s interpretation. I agree with the fact that the British translation regarding the title is misleading, as I find Quasimodo to be a bit distant from the focus of the book.
Hugo seemed to be distant with portraying both Notre Dame and 15th Century Parisian society when writing this book. From that stance, it would seem as though both Cathedral and time period were the protagonists of the tale.
As far as in-context, living characters, I would again like to state that Quasimodo is not whom I would nominate as protagonist. Esmeralda is a tempting choice, but, she is not agreed too much detail as far as personality. I would daresay that the most developed character in the book is the antagonist, Claude Frollo. I could write volumes on this character alone, as he is my favourite. If he weren’t already antagonist, I would deem him a excellent candidate for protagonist.
Ah, Claude Frollo. He is the main reason behind my like for the book. (To Disney fans–his tale does not unfold as in the movie!) I find his constant struggles and painful past to be some of the most intriguing parts of the book. The parts which included dialogue predominantly on his part were certainly my favourite ones. Claude and his constant battle with his feelings, his devotion, his jealousy and his belief in fate colour the book like no additional character could.
Ultimately, the message of the book is that appearances are illusory. Hugo describes this most obviously with Quasimodo. In my opinion, but, he gives the reader this message through every main character. Phoebus, for example, is at first open as a gallant officer who rescues Esmeralda but later turns out to be a brassy womanizer. Clopin is first encountered as a mere beggar but is in fact the king of the Gypsies, holding power within his circle of vagabonds. Quasimodo is first thought of as a monster but is agreed a more tender place in the reader’s heart by the conclusion of the book. Esmeralda is described as gorgeous and she at first shows mercy to both Gringoire and Quasimodo, but is later revealed as superficial and brassy in her taste for men. Claude Frollo appears as a studious priest, but is in reality a passionate, tortured spirit and so much more.
To all, I encourage you to read this book! You will feel what the characters feel as your eyes follow Hugo’s words. I recall with clarity reading the part where Claude observes as Phoebus attempts to manipulate Esmeralda for his own purpose and, enraged, stabs the captain with Esmeralda’s dagger. I remember how my stomach turned as I read. I could feel Claude Frollo’s every emotion. It was like magic. It was, in fact, magic. The magic of brilliant literature!
Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5
I still do not have the faintest thought as to why Disney could possibly make this book into a children’s movie. First of all, I would rate the unabridged book itself “PG-13″…but anyway. This book, more popularly known as “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame” (even though the plot circles around the Cathedral, not Quasimodo) is like a twisted “Romeo and Juliet” tale sans star-crossed lovers. The real protagonist (in my opinion) is Esmarelda, the sixteen year ancient gypsy dancer. She falls passionatly in like with the chauvanistic stuff-shirt Captain Pheobus whotakes advatage of her like while meanwhile courting a young, rich noblewoman. Meanwhile, both Quasimodo the deaf bell-ringer and Claude Frollo the fanatical archdeacon fall madly in like with Esmerelda. So naturally things get reasonably chaotic when the gypsy is sentanced to death for “murdering” the captain. The action so is spectacular, especially the siege of Notre Dame, that I nearly forgot I was reading it, not really standing in Place de la Greve watching it all take place. Hopefully I don’t give too much away when I say yes, there is a heck of a lot of dying going on throughout the book. This book, sorry to say, does have its long, slow, dull parts too…such as the beginning–just get through it and you’ll be alright. And unless you are an ardent scholar of mideival architecture or French history, go yet to be and skip the chapters titled “Notre-Dame” and “A birds eye view of Paris”. P.S: my favorite part…Esmarelda’s “marriage” to Pierre Gringiore, and also Gringiore’s unhealthy obsession with the gypsy’s goat
Reader’s Rating: 4 / 5
The novel which is so poorly mistranslated as “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame” is one which sadly few people have read. Disney has done this novel a fantastic injustice. Hugo paints an elaborate and incredible picture of 15th-century Paris. The main character is not Quasimodo, the infamous hunchback, but rather the cathedral of Notre Dame itself. It is a complex and powerful character who shifts dramatically depending on who percieves it. Hugo is a brilliant writer; each image is gorgeous, each line a poem. The book is four hundred pages of pure poetry. I highly recommend this novel for anyone who appreciates excellent literature.
Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5