The Hunchback of Notre Dame
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Narrated by:
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Philippe Duquenoy
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By:
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Victor Hugo
About this listen
When it comes to 19th-century French literature, few can compare to Victor Hugo. In 1831, Victor Hugo wrote one of the most memorial gothic stories of all time, Notre Dame de Paris, later changed to The Hunchback of Notre Dame in 1833. It is said that Hugo's inspiration for writing this book was the cathedral itself. He worried that society was neglecting the old gothic buildings in favor of new buildings and wanted to bring attention to the structure. As a result of Hugo's concern, the world was treated to a fantastic gothic novel that would continue to be enjoyed for centuries.
This amazing story is set in medieval Paris and is centered on the famed Notre Dame cathedral as well as the three main characters: Esmeralda (the gypsy dancer); Quasimodo (the hunchback); and the priest, Claude Frollo.
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THIS IS LIBRIVOX'S FREE RECORDING
- By C. M. W. on 12-24-18
By: George MacDonald
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A Hero of Our Time
- By: Mikhail Lermontov
- Narrated by: Clive Chafer
- Length: 6 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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In A Hero of Our Time, Grigory Pechorin is a bored, self-centered, and cynical young army officer who believes in nothing. With impunity he toys with the love of women and the goodwill of men. He is brave, determined, and willful, but his wasted energy and potential ultimately result in tragedy.
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Genius Presentation of Ywtsaxt fas
- By Brad Isaak on 11-06-16
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Collected Stories
- By: Oscar Wilde
- Narrated by: Frank Muller
- Length: 4 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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Whether it's a 300-year-old ghost who's scared out of his wits, a tenderhearted statue with a mission of mercy, or the suave Lord Savile who cannot commit a crime, the characters in these stories by witty Oscar Wilde make the tales priceless delights. Absurd, ironic, poignant, or scathing, these small gems of the storyteller's art are sure to become favorites. This collection, narrated by Frank Muller, includes "Lord Arthur Savile's Crime," "The Model Millionaire," "The Nightingale and the Rose," and more.
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Very Poor Recording
- By Anne in State College on 09-09-07
By: Oscar Wilde
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The Scarlet Pimpernel
- By: Baroness Orczy
- Narrated by: Flo Gibson
- Length: 8 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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The mysterious Scarlet Pimpernel's daring rescues of French nobility from the threat of the guillotine and the evil Chauvelin's efforts to track him down are all part of the intrigue in this swashbuckling adventure.
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nostalgic
- By theamazingcatherine on 07-29-18
By: Baroness Orczy
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Orlando
- By: Virginia Woolf
- Narrated by: Clare Higgins
- Length: 8 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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Fantasy, love and an exuberant celebration of English life and literature, Orlando is a uniquely entertaining story. Originally conceived by Virginia Woolf as a playful tribute to the family of her friend and lover, Vita Sackville-West, Orlando's central character, a fictional embodiment of Sackville-West, changes sex from a man to a woman and lives throughout the centuries, whilst meeting historical figures of English literature.
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Magical
- By Mayca on 05-31-05
By: Virginia Woolf
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The Diary of a Madman and Other Stories
- By: Nikolai Gogol
- Narrated by: Nicholas Boulton
- Length: 17 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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The Diary of a Madman and Other Stories is a bizarre and colorful collection containing the finest short stories by the iconic Russian writer Nikolai Gogol. From the witty and Kafkaesque "The Nose", where a civil servant wakes up one day to find his nose missing, to the moving and evocative "The Overcoat", about a reclusive man whose only ambition is to replace his old, threadbare coat, Gogol gives us a unique take on the absurd.
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Brilliant writer, fantastic narration, plus TOC
- By Reader on 04-01-22
By: Nikolai Gogol
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The Masque of the Red Death
- By: Edgar Allan Poe
- Narrated by: David Ian Davies
- Length: 17 mins
- Unabridged
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Prince Prospero invites several dozen of the local nobility to his castle for protection against an oncoming plague, the Red Death. Prospero orders his guests to attend a masked ball and, amidst a general atmosphere of debauchery and depravity, notices the entry of a mysterious hooded stranger dressed all in red.
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mediocre
- By Krystal on 10-20-17
By: Edgar Allan Poe
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The Scarlet Letter
- By: Nathaniel Hawthorne
- Narrated by: Kate Petrie
- Length: 6 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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One of the most important novels in classic literature, Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter tackles the subject of adultery, with the notorious Hester Prynne at the forefront of the scandal in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In the beginning of the novel, Hester is serving time in prison for having a child out of wedlock and is forced to wear a scarlet A on her clothing at all times, so she cannot run from her sin no matter where she goes.
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missing the introductory???
- By Savannah on 05-20-20
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The Scar
- By: Sergey Dyachenko, Marina Dyachenko, Elinor Huntington - translator
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
- Length: 15 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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Sergey and Marina Dyachenko mix dramatic scenes with romance, action and wit, in a style both direct and lyrical. Written with a sure artistic hand, The Scar is the story of a man driven by his own feverish demons to find redemption and the woman who just might save him. Egert is a brash, confident member of the elite guards and an egotistical philanderer. But after he kills an innocent student in a duel, a mysterious man known as “The Wanderer” challenges Egert and slashes his face with his sword, leaving Egert with a scar that comes to symbolize his cowardice.
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Highly, highly, Highly Recommended
- By Robert on 08-13-12
By: Sergey Dyachenko, and others
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Night’s Master
- Tales from the Flat Earth, Book One
- By: Tanith Lee
- Narrated by: Susan Duerden
- Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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Long ago when the Earth was flat, beautiful, indifferent Gods lived in the airy Upperearth realm above; curious, passionate demons lived in the exotic Underearth realm below; and mortals were relegated to exist in the middle. Azhrarn, Lord of the Demons and the Darkness, was the one who ruled the night, and many mortal lives were changed because of his cruel whimsy. And yet, Azhrarn held inside his demon heart a profound mystery which would change the very fabric of the Flat Earth forever.
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A gothic fairytale
- By KH on 04-10-12
By: Tanith Lee
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Overwhelmingly sad
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The archdeacon of Notre Dame, Claude Frollo, falls in lust with Esmerelda, a gypsy dancer who is much admired in Paris. At his instruction, Quasimodo, the hunchbacked bell-ringer of Notre Dame who he has befriended, kidnaps her. Esmerelda is rescued by Phoebus de Chateaupers (Captain of the Royal Archers) and she falls mistakenly in love with his bravery when he is, in reality, something of a rogue and a braggart.
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Excellent Story, Fantastic Narration
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The Hunchback of Notre Dame
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A mad priest, a vagabond playwright, a social-climbing soldier, and a deformed bell-ringer—all are captivated by a gypsy girl's beauty and charm. Two of them will betray her, but the others will remain loyal, even in the shadow of the gallows. These outlaws find sanctuary within the walls of medieval Paris' greatest monument, the grand Cathedral of Notre Dame.
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The Hunchback of Notre-Dame (AmazonClassics Edition)
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- Narrated by: Peter Noble
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In the Gothic towers of the cathedral of Notre-Dame - which has been subjected to decades of degradation and neglect - lives its bell ringer, Quasimodo. Persecuted as wicked and pilloried for his broken appearance, he’s shown kindness only by the alluring Esmeralda, an outsider herself, who fills Quasimodo’s heart with a hope and devotion beyond reason. When she falls victim to the lies of the vengeful and lustful Archdeacon Claude Frollo, only Quasimodo can save her from the gallows. In sanctuary, looming high above Paris, their fates entwine.
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amazing. great narrator, great story.
- By David on 01-01-21
By: Victor Hugo, and others
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The Hunchback of Notre Dame
- By: Victor Hugo
- Narrated by: PJ Roscoe
- Length: 22 hrs and 31 mins
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In the teeming city of medieval Paris lives Quasimodo, a man born with a hunchback who lives in the Notre Dame Cathedral as a bell ringer. He is treated despicably by everyone around him, save for Esmeralda, a beautiful woman who has attracted the eyes of many in Paris. His love for Esmeralda will drive him to do daring feats of bravery to keep her safe from the world and those who would harm her, even if it leads to his own undoing.
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Avoid this audio version!
- By sgh on 12-24-22
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More than I bargained for...
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Overwhelmingly sad
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Excellent Story, Fantastic Narration
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In the Gothic towers of the cathedral of Notre-Dame - which has been subjected to decades of degradation and neglect - lives its bell ringer, Quasimodo. Persecuted as wicked and pilloried for his broken appearance, he’s shown kindness only by the alluring Esmeralda, an outsider herself, who fills Quasimodo’s heart with a hope and devotion beyond reason. When she falls victim to the lies of the vengeful and lustful Archdeacon Claude Frollo, only Quasimodo can save her from the gallows. In sanctuary, looming high above Paris, their fates entwine.
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amazing. great narrator, great story.
- By David on 01-01-21
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Avoid this audio version!
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Les Misérables: Translated by Julie Rose
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One of the great classics of world literature and the inspiration for the most beloved stage musical of all time, Les Misérables is legendary author Victor Hugo’s masterpiece. This extraordinary English version by renowned translator Julie Rose captures all the majesty and brilliance of Hugo’s work. Here is the timeless story of the quintessential hunted man—Jean Valjean—and the injustices, violence, and social inequalities that torment him.
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A Book that Made Me a Better Person
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This classic is a French Romantic/Gothic novel by Victor Hugo, published in 1831. The story centers on the famous cathedral. Esmeralda captures the hearts of men, including those of Captain Phoebus and Pierre Gringoire, but also Quasimodo and his adoptive father, Archdeacon Claude Frollo. Frollo is torn between his obsessive lust and the rules of the church. He orders Quasimodo to kidnap her, but the hunchback is captured by Phoebus and his guards, who save Esmeralda.
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Hi from Texas
- By Shelli J Fisher on 05-24-18
By: Victor Hugo
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The Hunchback of Notre Dame
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Set amid the riot, intrigue, and pageantry of medieval Paris, Victor Hugo's masterful tale of heroism and adventure has been a perennial favorite since its first publication in 1831. It is the story of Quasimodo, the deformed bell-ringer of the Notre Dame Cathedral, who falls in love with the beautiful gypsy Esmeralda. When Esmeralda is condemned as a witch by Claude Frollo, the tormented archdeacon who lusts after her, Quasimodo attempts to save her; but his intentions are misunderstood.
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Classic Beauty and the Beast
- By Neil on 06-24-11
By: Victor Hugo
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The Hunchback of Notre Dame
- By: Victor Hugo
- Narrated by: Jim Killavey
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- Unabridged
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The Hunchback of Notre Dame (original French title, Notre-Dame de Paris) is set in 1482 in Paris, in and around the cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris. It tells the story of a poor Gypsy girl (La Esmeralda) and a misshapen bell-ringer (Quasimodo), one of the most colorful characters in literature, who falls in love with her. They are both victimized by a corrupt priest (Claude Frollo) and begin an adventure filled with great peril and great heroism.
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Morbid love described ....
- By Miroslaw on 10-25-08
By: Victor Hugo
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Notre-Dame de París [The Hunchback of Notre Dame]
- By: Victor Hugo
- Narrated by: Julio Lorenzo
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- Unabridged
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Notre-Dame de París cuenta la historia de la gitana Esmeralda, quien en compañía de su cabra Djali toca la pandereta y baila en las calles de París para subsistir, hasta que se la acusa de haber asesinado al capitán Phoebus, su amado, y se la condena a la horca. Sin embargo, el jorobado Quasimodo, campanero de Notre-Dame, quien tras su deformidad esconde un corazón sensible y sediento de amor, luchará para salvar a la gitana.
By: Victor Hugo
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Crime and Punishment
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- Unabridged
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Often considered one of the first ever psychological thrillers, Crime and Punishment is a gripping tale of a poverty-stricken young man in Saint Petersburg, Russia, who hatches a plan to kill someone for money. Once the deed is done, he finds himself racked with guilt, confusion and disgust for his act. In this new recording, Will Poulter gives new life to the troubled protagonist, Rodion Raskolnikov, in a performance that will have you questioning where we draw the line between right and wrong.
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Captivating story, excellent narration
- By Cadus on 05-18-23
What listeners say about The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Amazon Customer
- 05-10-19
Great descriptions of Paris and its buildings
Great descriptions of Paris, its buildings and the characters. Worth the read for that alone
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3 people found this helpful
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- Kathryn
- 10-10-19
Beautiful story with an excellent narrator.
Beautiful, tragic story. Read it once & then read it again. Truly timeless. The narrator of this audiobook did an excellent job.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Ronnie
- 03-19-21
NOT A LIGHT READ
This is a great book, but don't take it lightly. this isn't the Disney movie you know and love put into literature. This is a heavy and dark tale that will make you really think about the characters you've come to love. In this, you will respect some enemies even when you watch their downfall, hate the love interests, and especially abhor the captain. Quasimodo is not by far the best character in the book which is no surprise to anyone but he is much darker and bigger then you think. Don't take this book lightly, it's a very long build up with many more storylines then you are aware of. It all accumulates into one large tragedy that is heartbreaking and does not fill you with warm and fuzzies. Listener beware
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1 person found this helpful
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- Ronald
- 04-13-18
This is different than the Disney Movie
Where does The Hunchback of Notre Dame rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
Another Victor Hugo classic. Middle Ages Paris comes to life.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Find out a truer story of the gypsy. Hugo illuminates their character and history.
What does Philippe Duquenoy bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
He is very believable as he moves from one character to another.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
The moments when Quasi stands over the priest as he hangs on the ledge of the cathederal..
Any additional comments?
This is an easy and enjoyable listen!
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Overall
- John L. Murphy
- 10-02-19
All turns out as expected
Philippe Duquenoy efficiently delivers nineteen hours of this tale well. He uses Isabelle Hapgood's old translation but this doesn't sound antiquated, but suits the tone of this 19c epic. I liked the poet best and his early fall into the lair of a feast of clever fools. But he soon fades for most of the tale. Thus designated villain the priest Claude Frollo gets a long but interesting backstory setting the course of an utterly predictable plot. We get Quasimodo and Esmeralda and Pheobus all interacting as well as a recluse hidden away with naturally a hidden past. There is a section on the streets and landmarks that takes over an hour or at least seems to....still, I respect Victor Hugo's efforts to remind his country's people of their architecture and heritage. Which is timely, after the fire of 2019 reminded me to finally encounter this novel on audio. It mostly kept some of my interest thanks to Hugo's evocation of the end of the medieval Catholic dominance over France, and the narrator's steady pace. He did not exaggerate the women's voices or camp up Quasi's, and remained respectfu! to the spirit of this moral lesson. And it got me ready for Les Miserables, three times longer, which I hope is a bit more surprising.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Michael
- 05-31-23
Worth Reading: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (spoilers!)
In this review, we will explore the personal journey of Quasimodo, one of the main characters in Victor Hugo’s infamous novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. He is perhaps the only character in the story who, despite all his tragedies, becomes the best version of himself. He is a figure of inspiration for all of us because, though he suffers from disfigurement and extensive limitations, his heart continues to beat out of love for others and humble acceptance of himself.
At the beginning, Quasimodo is a recluse. He hides himself in the chapel of Notre Dame because he has been shunned from society due to his physical malformations. He is a hunchback, he is deaf, and has only the use of one eye. His sufferings have been great. And his response to them has been a simultaneous resentment towards the people of his village, but also a continual growth in tenderness and compassion from his long hours spent in the church.
He meets a Romani dancer named Esmerelda. She is exquisitely beautiful and had captured the unwanted addresses of an evil Archdeacon named Claude Frollo, who is gifted by all the appearances of a gentleman but is truly despised for his cruelty by the people. Frollo had attempted to force himself upon Esmeralda and kidnapped her one night, with the assistance of Quasimodo, who idealizes Frollo, grateful for any and all attentions (Frollo is Quasimodo’s adopted father.). The abduction is subverted, though, by Captain Phoebus, a strong and handsome leader, along with a group of armed soldiers. Esmerelda is immediately smitten by her rescuer, who also returns her affections. Meanwhile, Frollo abandons Quasimodo, leaving him to suffer the consequences of taking full responsibility for Esmerelda’s attempted kidnapping.
Quasimodo goes to court and is sentenced—despite the sympathies of the court’s people—to receive cruel lashings and public demonstration. This happens through the verdict of a mean and prejudiced judge, who also himself happens to be deaf. During this experience, Quasimodo is moved deeply by one act of kindness shown to him by Esmerelda who offers him a drink to alleviate his sufferings during the punishment. This action alone changes everything for Quasimodo. He continues to hide afterwards in the cathedral but his heart starts to overflow with love for Esmeralda.
A series of tragic events occur for Esmeralda. The Archdeacon places her in a position of desperation where she must choose between marrying him or getting hanged, under a false accusation of witchcraft. Quasimodo intervenes by rescuing her at the last minute and calling out the Law of Sanctuary within the protection of the cathedral walls. She is grateful to him but is still repulsed by his ugliness. She is safe for a time but, eventually, the Archdeacon has his way. He deems that if he cannot have Esmeralda, then no man shall. So, Frollo and Quasimodo watch as Esmeralda is hung for witchcraft. Overcome with sorrow and grief, Quasimodo pushes the Archdeacon off a balcony to his death. And Quasimodo is never seen nor heard from again.
This story is indeed a tragedy for all the characters. But it appears that Victor Hugo is examining two different examples of unrequited love; namely, the obsessive and self-seeking kind felt by the Archdeacon, and the authentic and generous affection had for Esmeralda by Quasimodo. The former seeks possession as its end, whereas the latter seeks only to offer itself to the beloved, expecting nothing in return. And so, for this reason, Quasimodo, despite all that he has suffered, is redeemed through the love of Esmeralda. It is a story full of grief but also of tenderness and inspiration through the transformation of the hunchback of Notre Dame.
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- Barbara Kensington
- 03-27-18
A Truly Great Narration!
I love how Victor Hugo paints such a clear and vivid picture for his audience in this tragic love story that will definitely captivate any and all listeners, and will most likely have you in tears towards the ending. Hats off to the narrator for a SPECTACULAR job throughout the entire book, his reading style and accents were spot on.
Next on the list...Les Miserables!
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- Kenneth Stephens
- 03-06-19
A couple rough chapters but overall excellence
The narration was good and carried inflection and some changes in voice for different charaters.
There were some chapters I struggled with because they didn't pertain to the story itself but were interesting in their own right. The book kept me wanting to come back to finish it.
I dont speak french so some of the language in the book was a bit thick and I had to rewind to listen again for better understand.
I knew it was vastly different than Disney's creation going in but it was still interesting to think about where they got certain visuals, ideas, easter eggs, and about what they changed.
For me (who has lost a child) the parent child dynamic was heartbreaking and memorable. How ever my favorite part of the book was when the Hunchback saved Esmeralda and brought her to sanctuary.
Hugo did a great job showing many types of love (or what some perceive as love) through many different character relations. His descriptions throught the book flowed effortlessly painting vivid pictures of the scene at all times.
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- Christopher
- 06-17-19
Tedious at points but well worth it.
Narrator was quite good... I did think perhaps the voice of Esmeralda could have been imbued with more dignity, but overall, was very well done.
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- Amazon Customer
- 08-09-18
Not what I expected
Idk if it is the addition of historical facts that took the drama out of this story for me but in a word it was brutal... glad it's over with
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