The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Graphic novel book title: The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Author: Victor Marie Hugo
Publisher:
Saddle back Publishing. Inc
www.sdlback.com
Copy write 2006
Young adult fiction
Reviewed by: Allen Klingelhoets

The idea behind Saddlebacks Illustrated Classics are to familiarize readers with the most famous stories from the world’s greatest authors. The introductions to The Hunchback of Notre Dame says book is designed for classrooms. The text was written and adapted by teachers and researchers and edited using Dale-Chall vocabulary system. In addition much time and effort was spent so story retains all the excitement, intrigue, and adventure of the original book.

The main idea of Illustrated Classics is to learn reading skills. There can also be discussions about story. It might also stimulate young minds to read actual novels.

The story in this graphic novel starts with a biography page about Victor Hugo. The characters Quasimodo, Esmeralda, Phoebus and Dom Frollo are the main characters of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Victor Hugo won lots of praise during his life for writing The Hunchback of Notre Dame which was published in 1831. He was a French author. He also wrote Les Miserables in 1861.

The back cover states The Hunchback of Notre Dame story was “A tragic love, disappointment, ignorance, anger, and deceit. The Hunchback of Notre Dame is one of Victor Hugo’s greatest accomplishments. This gothic tale about Dom Frollo, the arch deacon of Notre dame Cathedral, and his total love for the beautiful Esmeralda ends in disaster. The pathetic and disfigured Quasimodo, the hunch backed bell ringer is forced to choose between his two loves – Dom Frollo and La Esmeralda.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a grim novel and without question a timeless classic.

The graphic novel story is 54 pages long. It is an overview of The Hunchback of Notre Dame novel. The author and artist for graphic novel are not identified.

The reader gets to see Quasimodo’s origin. I got to see how Quasimodo was raised by Dom Frollo. I got to see how Quasimodo grew to ring bells of Notre Dame Cathedral. Quasimodo was taken in by Dom Frollo as baby when child’s own parents did not want him.

The book talked about superstitious times of 1482 Paris. I thought really amazing view of much larger novel. It made me feel like reading actual Victor Hugo novel. I also felt like watching some of the many adaptions into film or cartoon.

I also noticed The Hunchback of Notre Dame is only one of many Illustrated Classics from Saddle back Publishing. I also read “The Time Machine” by H.G. Wells. It is very rewarding to see publisher work so hard to bring classics to young reader’s attention.







Allen Klingelhoets