The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and Les Misérables - Two Classics by Victor Hugo - Unabridged

Victor Hugo has long been hailed as France's premiere novelist and the two books in this volume, "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame" and "Les Misérables," are his two crowning achievements. Published in 1831 and 1862 respectively, these two novels solidified Hugo's standing as the country's leading literary light and the books would later inspire countless adaptations; for both the stage and screen.

We begin with "Hunchback" (originally titled "Notre-Dame de Paris"). This Gothic novel tells the tale of the Romani girl, Esmeralda, whose bewitching looks draws the unwelcome attention of the Archdeacon of Notre-Dame, the sinister Claude Frollo. Frollo is the guardian of the cathedral's deformed bell-ringer, the hunchback Quasimodo, who is ordered to kidnap Esmeralda so that Frollo can possess her. When Quasimodo is captured in this attempt and sentenced to be publicly flogged for his crime, Esmeralda steps in and offers him relief, setting the stage for a dramatic and deadly conflict between the young soldier Phoebus, Esmeralda, the now-infatuated Quasimodo and the dastardly Frollo. It is a classic tale of power run amok and the perils of obsession.

Next, we present "Les Misérables," perhaps one of the greatest novels ever written. In it, we are introduced to Jean Valjean, the physically powerful but wretched bread thief who manages to escape his bonds and flee, pursued by the tireless policeman Javert, a single-minded lawman who has sworn to bring Valjean to justice. Along the way, we meet the tragic young mother Fantine, who has turned to a life of prostitution to support her daughter Cosette only to fall into disgrace, disease and death. When Fantine dies and Cosette is entrusted to the now-rich and secretive Valjean, the plot turns on how Cosette will be able to live her life; either on the run with her adopted father or in the arms of her true love, the revolutionary student Marius.

These two novels represent the very height of French literature. Victor Hugo's twin achievements, "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame" and "Les Misérables," are presented here in their original and unabridged formats, as translated by Isabel F. Hapgood.