The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Victor Hugo
Read by Mark Nelson
One of the great literary tragedies of all time, The Hunchback of Notre Dame features some of the most well-known characters in all of fiction - Quasimodo, the hideously deformed bell-ringer of Notre-Dame de Paris, his master the evil priest Claude Frollo, and Esmeralda, the beautiful gypsy condemned for a crime she did not commit. (Summary by Mark Nelson) (21 hr 50 min)
Chapters
Reviews
Great stuff but be prepared
Sorker
Very well read indeed by a talented and well-qualified "solo" reader. Be prepared to appreciate, and endure, the many themes in this very long book (1200 English pages, 1900 French pages). This is NOT the highly-abridged plotline encapsulated in the movies. Along with detailed character development, Hugo develops subthemes (anti-cleric, anti-judiciary, anti-aristocratic, anti-xenophobic) throughout the text. If you are an aficionado of Parisian architectural history or the various means by which privileged classes held rights to various sources of income, this is a treasure trove. It centers on the Cathedral, not on Quasimodo per se. Hugo's book title was simply the name of the Cathedral, "Notre Dame de Paris", without reference to a Hunchback, which was only added to the English translation. Hugo visited the Cathedral every day while writing this, in a 6 month final rush because he'd missed the publication deadline. The book is set in the post-construction, pre-Protestant 1400s, the height of the Cathedral’s condition and of the Catholic Church in France. In Hugo’s time, the cathedral had been substantially damaged (windows, statutes, art, treasure) in the iconoclastic upheaval of the French revolutionary era and subsequent use for decades as a food warehouse. Hugo loved architecture and the Cathedral, with a result that it was restored soon after the book was published.
awesome awesome
jaded_grl
5star all the way! victor hugo is becoming my new favorite author! in the beginning he goes off course a little discussing architecture and the city layout, but in truth you need that to kind of understand things better later. the story has very little in common with the disney cartoon, the only reference i had to compare it with lol. truly a classic that is heart wrenching & could easily be a true account because it lacks the "happy ever after" ending of lassic tales. i know, its not a true story. but Hugo is so good at telling his stories and characters that they feel real. the reader did an excellent job! voices for characters, pausing, volume, its was all perfect.
Amazing Book! Amazing Reader!
Micah
Having never read any of Hugo’s work, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book and how captivating the characters, themes, and plot were. This book has you laughing at comical ironies and in anguish at injustices and evil. Hugo’s love of architecture is evident in this book and gave me a deeper appreciation for gothic architecture. The reader for this book is really amazing. His voice is pleasant to listen to, he gives unique and recognizable voices to each character, and his reading is full of life. Yes, there are some lengthy sections in the book that don’t always progress the plot forward, but they deepen the reader’s understanding of the setting, characters, and time period. Listen to this book!
An amazing book!
amlaskis
Such a great story, I listened again as soon as it ended! The descriptive detail throughout the story that not only gives a picture of the times but sets the stage for a greater feel for the nuances of the characters. The reader is fantastic and really brought the story to life. The amount of work put in, foreign word pronunciation, inflection, proper use of dramatic pause, and far too much to mention really, resulted in a book where the story is fully engaging with the reader hardly noticeable. In short, the closest to a perfect reading this side of heaven.
I Can't Imagine A Better Reading Of This Classic
Unknown
No need reviewing the story. It's a classic for a reason and it stands the test of time well. The writing still feels fresh and modern. What needs to be focused on here is the amazing reading. Mark Nelson has outdone himself with this one. The tone, voicing and pace of the reading is simply fantastic. This was a joy to listen to and I highly recommend it.
Wow! They don't write books like they used to....
Kristen
This tragedy has stood the test of time for so many reasons! It was such a relief not to be reading another "same old story" with only different character names. When each of the characters gives in to his weakness, consequences follow. Hugo's writing made me feel as if the characters were real, which left me heartbroken in the end. The reader did a tremendous job! The lengthy descriptions (hang in there!) could have so easily become boring with the wrong reader. He also captured the passions and feelings of the characters so well with his range of voices.
A tremendous classic story well read
Akku
A tremendous tale which also integrates an essay on architecture, some lessons on history and many choice opinions on politics, religion and sociology. there is plenty to go at in this marvellous work, read so wonderfully by Mark Nelson. when I see the number of excellent readings by this fellow here on Librivox I wonder that he has time for anything else! For those of us familiar with the hunchback and the story only through popular culture and a couple of older movies this reading of the book in full is an educational and a pleasure.
Great Narration
Esther
Very nicely done! the narration is excellent. I enjoyed every minute of it. Hugo possessed deep understanding of the human heart, the abuses of those in authority, the ridiculousness of the monarchy yet painted a beautiful picture of the image of God in man in the character of Quasimodo. It's a charming love story and interweaves daily life, politics and history of 15th century France. It makes me appreciate I was born this side of history.