25 Best Books About Paris You Need to Read – Cafes and Getaways

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25 Best Books About Paris You Need to Read

Last Modified: April 8, 2023

The enchanting book by Victor Hugo is a must-read for those looking to get lost in the Medieval streets of Paris. Most of us are familiar with the movie adaptation, but the original novel differs significantly. 

The novel revolves around Notre Dame cathedral and the hunchback named Quasimodo, who lives in the bell tower. After falling in love with the gypsy Esmeralda, he devotes himself to protecting her. The powerful novel centers around love, forgiveness, and betrayal. All while showcasing the political issues in Paris at the time. 

Hugo originally wrote The Hunchback of Notre Dame as a way to advocate for the preservation of the cathedral that had been falling into disrepair. Little did he know, it would become one of the greatest French novels ever written. 

Les Misérables is another incredible novel by Victor Hugo about the city he loved so much. The story follows Jean Valjean, a former convict trying to move on with his life after being sentenced to 19 years in prison for stealing some bread.   

He decides that in order to move on, he must break his parole and create a new identity for himself. He encountered several vivid characters along the way, including struggling mother Fantine, her daughter, and a group of young revolutionaries. 

The vast 1900-page story includes darker themes of poverty and social injustice, which were political issues in 19th-century France. The original book has been adapted into both a musical and film and remains one of the most celebrated French novels of all time.

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