| Victor Hugo |
Victor Hugo is the most important French author of the Romantic period. He was born in 1802 in Besançon, he died in 1855 in Paris. Joseph Léopold Sigisbert Hugo, his father, was General in the army of Napoleon. The parents separated in 1803 and his mother went to Paris, where he spent almost all his life.
A detaild biography is to be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Hugo
The novel Notre-Dame de Paris (or better known as the Hunchback of Notre Dame) was published in 1831 and was very successful. The reason might be that there was everything in, a good novel needs, love, ruthless lovers, religious fanatism, brave beggars and of cours Quasimodo, the ugly one with the beautiful soul.
The vicar Claude Frollo falls in love with the gipsy Esmeralda, who does not love him back. He decides to use his servant Quasimodo to kidnap her, but the attempt fails, because Phoebus, a captain of the armee intervenes. Quasimodo is punished for the attempt and the only person helping him is Esmeralda.
Esmeralda from her part falls in love with her saver, but Phoebus is already engaged. But, that must not mean too much and he meets with Esmeralda. To this meeting suddenly Claude Frollo appears and stabs the captain, who survives. Esmeralda is sentenced to death for murder attempt. Quasimodo rescues her and brings her to the church, where she should have asylum, but the city council decides to get her out and hang her. Claude Frollo watches the death agony of Esmeralda and starts laughing hysterically, upon which Quasimodo pushes him down and he dies. Quasimodo disappears. The following part explains what happened to Quasimodo and is the beautiful end of the novel.
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