One of my favorite passe-temps1<\/a><\/sup>hobbies<\/span>\u00a0<\/em>during l’hiver2<\/a><\/sup>winter<\/span>\u00a0<\/em>is me mettre \u00e0 l’aise3<\/a><\/sup>to cozy up, get comfortable<\/span><\/em> and reading a captivating book. Even better when that book is in French and I get to practice, and faire\u00a0d’une pierre deux\u00a0coups.4<\/a><\/sup>to kill two birds with one stone<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n I am sure the majority of you are familiar with the story of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, especially thanks to the Disney animated film from 1996. But did you know that it was based on a story called Notre-Dame de Paris5<\/a><\/sup>Our Lady of Paris<\/span>\u00a0<\/em>by the prolific French author Victor Hugo<\/a>?<\/p>\n After the Napoleonic Wars, the medieval cathedral was in such a state of d\u00e9labrement6<\/a><\/sup>disrepair<\/span> <\/em>that demolition was considered. In order to save the cathedral and bring awareness to the importance of preserving the Gothic architecture of Paris, Hugo wrote the dark story of\u00a0Quasimodo, le carillonneur7<\/a><\/sup>the bellringer<\/span><\/em> of the cathedral.<\/p>\n Thankfully, the plan was a success. The story became so popular that the cathedral was restaur\u00e9e<\/em>8<\/a><\/sup>restored<\/span> and Hugo remained a vocal advocate for the conservation of Paris’ medieval buildings. Even today, France still remains steadfast in the protection and preservation of the original structure. Despite the devastating fire in 2019,<\/a> the government has since enacted a law rejecting any idea of ‘modernizing’ the design and instead promising to restore it to its original beauty. Merci \u00e0 Dieu!\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Image from pixabay, CCO.<\/p><\/div>\n Heureusement9<\/a><\/sup>luckily<\/span><\/em> Hugo’s original story is now found on the public domain, meaning you can read it from the comfort of your home during winter gratuitement<\/em>10<\/a><\/sup>for free<\/span>! Just follow this link here<\/a> to the Project Gutenberg site, and enjoy the rich description of the well known church in the middle of Paris.<\/p>\n I will close with a quote from le livre troisi\u00e8me<\/em>, Notre-Dame<\/em>:<\/p>\n Sans doute, c’est encore aujourd’hui un majestueux et sublime \u00e9difice que l’\u00e9glise de Notre-Dame de Paris. Mais, si belle qu’elle se soit conserv\u00e9e en vieillissant, il est difficile de ne pas soupirer, de ne pas s’indigner devant les d\u00e9gradations, les mutilations sans nombre que simultan\u00e9ment le temps et les hommes ont fait subir au v\u00e9n\u00e9rable monument, sans respect pour Charlemagne qui en avait pos\u00e9 la premi\u00e8re pierre, pour Philippe-Auguste qui en avait pos\u00e9 la derni\u00e8re.<\/em><\/p>\n Sur la face de cette vieille reine de nos cath\u00e9drales, \u00e0 c\u00f4t\u00e9 d’une ride on trouve toujours une cicatrice.\u00a0Tempus edax, homo edacior<\/strong>. Ce que je traduirais volontiers ainsi: le temps est aveugle, l’homme est stupide.<\/em><\/p>\n Without doubt, the Church of Notre-Dame of Paris is still today a majestic and sublime edifice. But, however beautiful it has been preserved as it ages, it is difficult not to sigh, not to be indignant at the degradations, the countless mutilations that time and men have simultaneously subjected to the venerable monument, without respect for Charlemagne who had laid the first stone, for Philippe-Auguste who had laid the last.<\/p>\n On the face of this old queen of our cathedrals, next to a wrinkle there is always a scar. Tempus edax, homo edacior<\/em>. Which I would gladly translate as follows: time is blind, man is stupid<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Il ne m\u00e2chait pas ses mots<\/em>. He didn’t mince words.<\/p>\n Bonne lecture!11<\/a><\/sup>Happy reading!<\/span>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/12\/notre-111248_1280-1024x575.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/12\/notre-111248_1280-350x197.jpg\")