The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, often known as "Our Lady of Paris" or simply "Our Lady of Paris," is a French Gothic novel written by Victor Hugo and first published in 1832. It centers on the tragic tale of Quasimodo, Esmeralda, a Gypsy street dancer, and Archdeacon Claude Frollo, Quasimodo's protector, in 15th-century Paris. The Renaissance backdrop, improbable love triangles, and marginalized individuals are all aspects of the work that make it a model for Romantic literary themes. In addition to several television and theatrical adaptations, the book has been adapted for the big screen more than a dozen times. Notable adaptations include a 1923 silent film starring Lon Chaney, a 1939 sound film starring Charles Laughton, and a 1996 Disney animated feature starring Tom Hulce. In a time of enormous change that led to the loss of many French Gothic buildings, the novel aimed to uphold French cultural values. The book helped revive enthusiasm for the restoration of Gothic form and turned Notre Dame de Paris into a symbol of the nation. The Notre-Dame Cathedral is referenced in the French title of the book, Notre-Dame de Paris.
