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The Hunchback of Notre Dame

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The Hunchback of Notre Dame

By: Victor Hugo
Narrated by: Bill Homewood
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About this listen

In the grotesque bell-ringer Quasimodo, Victor Hugo created one of the most vivid characters in classic fiction. Quasimodo's doomed love for the beautiful gypsy girl Esmeralda is an example of the traditional love theme of beauty and the beast. Yet, set against the massive background of Notre Dame de Paris and interwoven with the sacred and secular life of medieval France, it takes on a larger perspective. The characters come to life: the poet, Gringoire; the tormented priest, Claude Frollo; the fun-loving captain, Phoebus; and, above all, Quasimodo and Esmeralda themselves. It is a tale peppered with humor but fueled by the anguish that unfolds beneath the bells of the great cathedral of Paris.

Public Domain (P)2014 Naxos AudioBooks
Classics France Heartfelt Witty British Literature
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What listeners say about The Hunchback of Notre Dame

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3rd time listening to this story.

This is my favourite story. It has everything you need. Horror, romance tragedy and more. Heartwarming at times but heartbreaking in conclusion

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A classic

Loved this! Bill Homewood really brings the story to life. It's a tale that leaves you sad at the end, but, there's so much humour dotted throughout.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Bliss!

I have to say this is one of my most favourite stories of all time! Love, romance, heartbreak, constant change. Keeps you gripped throughout! I think this is a masterpiece and is so underestimated in my opinion! Far superior to Les Miserables. Victor Hugo is a classic master! Performed very well indeed by Bill Homewood! A must for all readers! Will stop writing g now as I would carry on forever!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Too much description of Paris (nearly 4 hours)

The narrator was engaging as was the story. Once passed the first few chapters, the story really takes hold of you.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Fantastic

If only all narrators and authors could be such tell such captivating tales. Fantastic story superbly narrated.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Extremely long-winded

The performance is fantastic, but the writing demands ultimate patience and tenacity to get through it.

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Victor Hugo don’t arf go on at times but . . .

The narrator was perfect and a pleasure to listen to and to my untutored ear sounded like he really knew his French (and Greek, Latin what might have been Hebrew and perhaps some Alchameic runic). He sounded like he loved reading this and neither his stamina nor his enthusiasm waned even whilst reading Louis II’s turgid shopping list. Alas, unlike the narrator, I nodded off during some of the lengthy digressions into Medieval French architecture. My wife assured me they were very evocative. When Victor H returns from Gothic architecture to Gothic horror the results are captivating, moving and, well, horrific! The denouement is powerful, haunting stuff! Next up I am keen to hear this excellent narrator present The Three Musketeers.

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beautiful classic everybody should listen to

If you could sum up The Hunchback of Notre Dame in three words, what would they be?

Enchanting, moving, thought-provoking

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Hunchback of Notre Dame?

Esmeralda's death and Quasimodo's reaction to it.

Have you listened to any of Bill Homewood’s other performances? How does this one compare?

I had not this pleasure, but I'm looking forward to listening to other books read by Mr Homewood.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book is rather dark. The brief moments of happiness any of the characters has are quickly ruined. There is cruelty and betrayal one feels passionately about and some deeply sad moments, where your heart is breaking. I listened to the end of the book while driving home and stayed in the car until it finished playing and for about half an hour after. I need time to process.

Any additional comments?

It's a timeless masterpiece anybody aspiring to be called well-read should familiarize themselves with. At times one can get lost in the maze of different characters, but in time it becomes clear who is who, and what motivations stand behind each of the characters. It's a romance in its Gothic variation, without a happy ending, filled with pain, rejection and youthful dreams being crushed. Yet, deeply moving as one will certainly find a character he or she will root for through their ups and downs towards a bitter resolution.

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4 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Excellent read

A little too much detail on architecture but the story is good. The readers voice is also a little grating at time.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Not the story I thought it was

Not the story I thought it was. For every 20mins of actual story there are 40mins of discription of this street or that building.

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