The Hunchback of Notre-Dame

First edition thus. Small 8vo., full modern brown calf, morocco title piece. London, Richard Bentley. 1833

A copy of this extremely scarce English-language edition of Hugo's masterpiece, published only two years after the French edition. The Hunchback of Notre-Dame had a huge influence on English literature and the Romantic movement in particular. An instant success, as many as four English translations of the book were available within the decade. The first two both appeared in London in 1833: this one, in one volume, translated by Frederic Shoberl; and another, in three volumes, translated by William Hazlitt and published under the title Notre Dame: A Tale of the 'Ancien Régime'.

A fine copy, recently rebound in full brown calf, neat previous owner's inscription in pencil to title page.