Notre-Dame de Paris

For the French, Victor Hugo is first and foremost a great national poet and a reformer of verse. At the same time, he is the creator of romantic drama and a magnificent prose writer whose works continue to captivate readers worldwide. Hugo’s novels are distinguished by the richness of his imagination; their plots are usually complex, their climaxes dramatic, and their characters’ passions intense and tragic. Drawing on national history, the author creates compelling portraits of the past and vivid, memorable characters. It is impossible to forget the proud Romani girl Esmeralda, the deformed bell-ringer of Notre-Dame Cathedral, Quasimodo, the dashing and cruel beauty Frollo, and the priest tormented by jealousy—the characters of the novel “Notre-Dame de Paris” (1831). It is no wonder that this story has been adapted into opera and ballet, numerous film versions, and, finally, a popular musical.The “World Classics” series contains the full texts of Russian and foreign literary works suitable for school curricula and extracurricular reading. Classic hardback editions, a convenient format, and an affordable price make the series a practical choice for students and home libraries.