Introduction: Esmeralda; or The Deformed of Notre Dame

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Esmeralda; or The Deformed of Notre Dame, was a stage drama written by Edward Fitzball. It was first preformed around 1834, though some sources say 1836 or 1837. Fitzball wrote many plays during his career and was very popular in his time. He often dealt with macabre themes, which earned him the nickname of "The Terrible Fitzball."

He wrote Esmeralda after his wife encouraged him to read Hugo's Notre Dame de Paris. She had read it in its original language. He was "weary of writing" at the time, and the novel inspired him to write this play. The play was accepted immediately and it was a big success on the stage, and was preformed all around the world for many years.

Later on in his career, Fitzball wrote another adaptation of the book. That one had the exact opposite title of this one: Quasimodo; or The Gipsy Girl of Notre Dame.

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