Book Review: Notre-Dame de Paris by Kathy Borrus

On April 15 last year, the world looked on in horror as Notre-Dame blazed in the heart of Paris. Kathy Borrus’s book offers a fascinating look back at nine centuries of this landmark, which has borne witness to some of the most important events in French history. A marvel of Gothic architecture, the cornerstone of Notre-Dame was laid in 1163 and construction was completed in 1345.

It has served as a house of worship and a refuge, as the site for royal weddings, coronations and funerals, and it is on every Paris tourist’s must-see list – not to mention its role in Victor Hugo’s inspiring classic The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. With the cathedral wounded but still standing, the world now watches as the rebuilding process gets underway.

Notre-Dame de Paris chronicles the history of this beloved building through striking, and sometimes rare, archival photographs, leaving us in no doubt as to why it holds such a place in our hearts.

From France Today magazine. For more France Today book reviews, click here