This is my second most favorite Historical Fiction book ever.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a compelling story of love set in one of my favorite time periods (the Dark ages)

A young gypsy woman is convicted of a crime she didn't do only to cover up the scandal committed by a priest. She escapes the noose, however, by taking refuge in the cathedral of Notre Dame since, back then, you were not allowed to arrest someone in a cathedral or church. She hides there for sometimes under the care of the hunchback named Quasimodo who falls in love with her.

One day, however, she leaves the cathedral only to be arrested and then hanged. But that isn't before she is reunited with her long lost mother who is desperate to try to save the daughter she lost. Throw in a playwright turned vagabond and a pleasure seeking priest, and the story becomes a masterpiece. So much happens in the story that it's impossible to say it all here, but I hope I've intrigued you enough to make you want to read it.

The time period it was set in. It's not everyday I find a book where the action takes place in the Dark Ages of France. I believe it was either in the 13th or 14th century. Sure, epic fantasy is often written in a parallel time, but as far as historical fiction books go, this was a refreshing break from the 15-18th century.

Cry, and I did. The ending made the book a tragedy, but it didn't spoil the rest of it.

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Created Oct 30, 2014 at 4:37pm • Submit your own review...