<P> The novel's original French title, Notre - Dame de Paris, is a metaphor: it refers to Notre Dame Cathedral, on which the story is centered, and Esmeralda, the novel's main character who is "our lady of Paris" and the center of the human drama within the story . Frederic Shoberl's 1833 English translation was published as The Hunchback of Notre Dame (which became the generally used title in English), which refers to Quasimodo, the novel's other main character . </P> <P> Victor Hugo began writing Notre - Dame de Paris in 1829, largely to make his contemporaries more aware of the value of the Gothic architecture, which was neglected and often destroyed to be replaced by new buildings or defaced by replacement of parts of buildings in a newer style . For instance, the medieval stained glass panels of Notre - Dame de Paris had been replaced by white glass to let more light into the church . This explains the large descriptive sections of the book, which far exceed the requirements of the story . A few years earlier, Hugo had already published a paper entitled Guerre aux Démolisseurs (War to the Demolishers) specifically aimed at saving Paris' medieval architecture . The agreement with his original publisher, Gosselin, was that the book would be finished that same year, but Hugo was constantly delayed due to the demands of other projects . In the summer of 1830, Gosselin demanded that Hugo complete the book by February 1831 . Beginning in September 1830, Hugo worked nonstop on the project thereafter . The book was finished six months later . </P> <P> The story is set in Paris in 1482 during the reign of Louis XI . The gypsy Esmeralda (born as Agnes) captures the hearts of many men, including those of Captain Phoebus and Pierre Gringoire, but especially Quasimodo and his guardian Archdeacon Claude Frollo . Frollo is torn between his obsessive lust for Esmeralda and the rules of Notre Dame Cathedral . He orders Quasimodo to kidnap her, but Quasimodo is captured by Phoebus and his guards, who save Esmeralda . Gringoire, who attempted to help Esmeralda but was knocked out by Quasimodo, is about to be hanged by beggars when Esmeralda saves him by agreeing to marry him for four years . </P> <P> The following day, Quasimodo is sentenced to be flogged and turned on the pillory for one hour, followed by another hour's public exposure . He calls for water . Esmeralda, seeing his thirst, approaches the public stocks and offers him a drink of water . It saves him, and she captures his heart . </P>

Where does the hunchback of notre dame take place