The Hunchback of Notre Dame
 

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Otherwise known by its French title, Notre Dame de Paris. I don't know why they changed it, considering that Victor Hugo pretty much stated that the Notre Dame cathedral was the main character, but I digress.

The story is about the interactions between these characters:
-Gringoire, a struggling playwright
-Frollo, a priest
-Esmeralda, who makes her living as a dancer and does tricks with her pet goat, Djali
-Quasimodo, who is Frollo's adopted son and is the bell-ringer for Notre Dame
-Phoebus, a soldier

There's also other characters, like Jehan, Frollo's brother, Fleur-de-Lys, who is betrothed to Phoebus, Gudule, a recluse who still grieves over her lost daughter, and Clopin, king of the Truands.

To make a long story short, one night, Gringoire follows Esmeralda and watches her get kidnapped. She is saved by Phoebus and falls in love with him. Frollo, who along with Quasimodo, was doing the kidnapping, as he became obsessed with Esmeralda. She ends up marrying Gringoire in order to save his life (long story), but the relationship is more or less platonic. Esmeralda and Phoebus meet up one night, but a jealous Frollo stabs him and she is framed for the murder. Nice.

It's a very good book and I'm trying not to spoil it for everyone who hasn't read it. There was a Disney version that came out, I want to say 1997, and I think it's pretty good. However, this thread's about the original novel, so fire away. :)

I got it out of the libaray a few weeks ago but I didn;t get to read it in time, I'm looking out to by the though! Amazing name by the way! (Oscar wilde is like god! xD)

Thank you! Yes, he is amazing. :3

You should read it. It's gooood. The thing is, though, Hugo likes to go on and on about architecture and what Paris was like back then, so if you don't find that interesting, you may want to skip those chapters. Otherwise, it's excellent.

Oh no! I love descriptions like that. It helps me picture the scene more.
Oscar wilde lived for time about 10 mintes away from my house! I'm so honoured!
I really like the disney represerntation, but I think the book is probably alot darker, Am I correct?

I will definately have to go find that, it sounds awesome.

Really? You're so lucky. :D I take it you live in the UK?

Well, the descriptions can be a bit much. I know in Les Miserables he spends forever talking about the sewers (yeah, don't ask).

Is it dark? Very much. Oh, let's see. Here's some spoilers:

Dom Claude Frollo, our little priest who loves alchemy so, stabs Phoebus when he catches him making out with Esmeralda. Fun stuff, you know. Also, remember the recluse I was talking about? She used to be a whore. So, you know, Esmeralda was the daughter of a prostitute and maybe a thief, not really a gypsy at all. Quasimodo is gruffer, doesn't like people (except for Frollo and Esmeralda), is deaf, and people really don't like this guy. Phoebus is pretty much a frat boy and a jerk. When Esmeralda is being led to the gallows, he just stands there and doesn't do anything. Not to mention that Frollo is just really, really obsessed with Esmeralda. We're talking sexually here.

The movie is excellent, definitely for a kid's film, although I have to restrain myself from yelling "BUT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN." And, "Where's Gringoire and Jehan and Sister Gudule and Fleur-de-Lys and all those people? D: Why, movie, why?"

Sorry. So.

@Lady Luck Infinity: You really should! The book is a classic and it's so great. :)

I need to put this on my list of books to read. Thanks for the heads up.

Hey, you're welcome. :) It'd be good to have more fans of the book. Woot!