Hunchback of Notre-Dame (novel)

*The Hunchback of Notre-Dame*, by Victor Hugo, is a novel set in 15th-century Paris, around the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral. It explores themes of love, fate, social justice, and the human condition through the lives of characters like the kind-hearted gypsy Esmeralda, the deformed bell-ringer Quasimodo, and the ambitious Captain Phoebus. The story highlights the tension between beauty and ugliness, both physical and moral, and critiques societal hypocrisy. Hugo’s richly detailed narrative celebrates Paris's architecture and culture, while illustrating the struggles of marginalized individuals and the power of compassion amid societal cruelty.